On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons

Law of Georgia

On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons

Article 1. Objectives of the Law and Scope of Regulation 1. In accordance with the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, as well as the universally recognised principles and norms of international law, the objectives of this Law are:🔗

a) in accordance with the universally recognised human rights and freedoms, as well as the interests of the State, to create legal guarantees for aliens and stateless persons present in Georgia;

b) to protect the universally recognised rights of aliens and stateless persons, irrespective of race, skin colour, language, sex, religion, political and other views, national, ethnic and social belonging, origin, property and rank status;

c) to promote the development of relations between Georgia and other States in the fields of economy, culture, education and science;

d) to strengthen the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia to free movement and free choice of place of residence, as well as free choice of activity and profession;

e) to strengthen the compliance of the legislation of Georgia regulating the legal status of aliens and stateless persons having status in Georgia with the universally recognised norms of international law and the international treaties of Georgia;

f) to promote international cooperation in the field of prevention of illegal migration, to prevent spontaneous and unregulated migration, to ensure the implementation of a targeted migration policy.

2. This Law regulates the legal grounds and mechanisms for the entry, stay, transit through and exit from Georgia of aliens, and also determines the rights and obligations of aliens and stateless persons, the forms and procedures for the expulsion from Georgia of aliens present in Georgia, and the scope of competence and responsibility of the State institutions participating in the expulsion process.

3. The operation of subparagraph „c“ of Article 5, paragraph 4 of Article 10, Chapter VI and Article 47 of this Law shall extend to an asylum seeker and a person enjoying international protection, except where the Law of Georgia “On International Protection” and the 1951 UN Convention “On the Status of Refugees” place them in a better legal position. The operation of Article 52¹ of this Law shall also extend to an asylum seeker.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025

Article 2. Definition of terms The terms used in this Law have the following meaning:🔗

a) alien – a person who is not a citizen of Georgia and is not a stateless person having status in Georgia;

b) stateless person – a person whom no state considers as its citizen in accordance with its own legislation;

c) visa – a conditional permit of established form, which is issued by placing a visa form in a travel document or electronically (electronic visa) and which, in the absence of grounds for refusal of entry into Georgia or of the fact of termination of the period of stay in Georgia, confirms the right of an alien to enter and/or stay in Georgia or to transit through the territory of Georgia;

d) visa validity period – the period during which an alien has the right to enter and/or stay in Georgia;

e) invitation – an official document containing a written request of a citizen of Georgia, a person holding a residence permit in Georgia, a legal entity registered in Georgia, a Ministry of Georgia, the Office of the State Minister of Georgia, a diplomatic mission accredited in Georgia, a consular institution, an international organization, by which the purpose of the alien's arrival in Georgia is confirmed;

f) travel document – a passport or another travel document replacing it, as well as an identity document recognized under the legislation of Georgia or on the basis of an international treaty of Georgia, which is valid for travel;

g) inspection at a border crossing point – carrying out border-migration control upon the entry of an alien into Georgia and upon his exit from Georgia;

h) family member – the spouse, minor child, minor under guardianship or curatorship and/or in full care, a recipient of support or a person incapable of work of an alien or a stateless person having status in Georgia; the parent of a minor alien or a minor stateless person having status in Georgia; the alien spouse, minor child, minor under guardianship or curatorship and/or in full care of a citizen of Georgia, the parent of a minor citizen of Georgia;

i) relative – the spouse, child, parent, sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, grandchild of an alien or a stateless person having status in Georgia;

j) border crossing point – a highway or section of road permitted for international traffic, part of the territory of a railway station, port, harbour, airport (aerodrome/heliport) where border control related to crossing the state border of Georgia and other types of control established by the legislation of Georgia are carried out;

k) border zone – a land strip of not more than 5 kilometres in width extending from the line of the State border of Georgia or from the coastal strip into the interior of the territory of Georgia, as well as part of the territory of an international airport (aerodrome/heliport), railway station or sea port where border control related to the crossing of the State border of Georgia is carried out;

l) person of a free profession – a person of a certain profession who, in the interests of persons or of the public interest, independently and at his/her own responsibility carries out professional activity;

m) labour activity – any activity for which a person receives remuneration;

n) transit passage – crossing the territory of Georgia for the purpose of entering a third state;

o) carrier company – a legal person operating in the field of transport which is engaged in bringing passengers into Georgia and taking them out of Georgia;

p) period of stay in Georgia – the period indicated in a Georgian visa or a residence permit in Georgia, as well as the period determined by the legislation of Georgia, during which an alien has the right to stay in Georgia. The period of stay in Georgia shall be counted from the day on which the alien first crosses the State border of Georgia;

q) asylum seeker, person enjoying international protection – persons defined by the Law of Georgia “on International Protection”;

r) temporary identification certificate – an identity document issued to an asylum seeker, to a person seeking the status of a stateless person in Georgia, as well as to persons provided for by Article 60 of this Law. In the cases determined by order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia and in accordance with the established procedure, a temporary identification certificate may also be issued to persons in respect of whom the legislation of Georgia does not provide for the issuance of another identity document;

s) expulsion – an act of an authorised body of the state the purpose of which is, where a ground defined by this Law exists, to ensure that an alien or a stateless person having status in Georgia leaves Georgia against his/her will.

t) commercial intermediary – a legal person entrusted with the performance of individual actions necessary for the issuance of a Georgian visa abroad.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3344 – website, 31.03.2015.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2023 No. 3120 – website, 30.06.2023.

Article 3. General principles The entry, stay, transit passage and exit from Georgia of an alien are regulated by the following principles:🔗

a) principle of non-refoulement;

b) principle of family unity;

c) principle of non-discrimination;

d) principle of non-expulsion;

e) principle of protection of the best interests of the child;

f) the crossing of the state border of Georgia by an alien is regulated by the legislation of Georgia;

g) state bodies defined by the legislation of Georgia are authorized, with respect to an alien crossing the state border of Georgia, taking into account the reason for and purpose of his/her crossing, to apply the relevant laws and rules;

h) only those restrictions that are established by the legislation of Georgia may be applied to an alien crossing the state border of Georgia;

i) an alien who has been refused the issuance of a visa or the crossing of the state border of Georgia has the right to appeal this decision in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

j) the entry of an alien into Georgia is possible in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, in compliance with the universally recognized principles of international law and the international treaties of Georgia;

k) entry into Georgia may be refused to an alien against whom criminal prosecution is ongoing in connection with such international crimes as: terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking (trafficking);

l) an alien staying in Georgia may freely leave Georgia. This right may be restricted only in accordance with law, for the purposes of ensuring state and/or public security necessary for the existence of a democratic society, protecting health, preventing crime, or administering justice;

m) the expulsion of an alien from Georgia is possible in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, in compliance with the universally recognized principles of international law;

n) the legal regime established for the citizens of that state applies to a stateless person permanently residing in another state.

Article 4. Entry into Georgia 1. Unless otherwise provided by Georgian legislation, a foreigner shall enter Georgia and leave Georgia through a border crossing point open for international traffic during the hours established for crossing, if he/she has a valid travel document and receives permission to enter Georgia.🔗

2. Representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace programme, when entering Georgia, transiting through and leaving Georgia for the performance of official duties in accordance with the procedure established by paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Article, if they do not have a valid travel document, shall carry only the following travel documents:

a) an identity card issued by the sending country, which indicates the person's first name, surname, date of birth, rank, number (if any), branch of the armed forces and bears a photograph;

b) an individual or collective movement order.

3. Foreign employees of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representations of international organizations accredited in Georgia, as well as representations equated with them, including citizens of those countries who do not require a visa to enter Georgia, shall require a visa for first entry into Georgia for work, unless otherwise provided by an international treaty of Georgia. During the accreditation period, they shall stay in Georgia and cross the state border of Georgia on the basis of an accreditation card issued in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

4. Georgian legislation may provide for a different regime for entry into and stay in Georgia.

5. Representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace programme shall not require a visa for entry into Georgia, transit through and departure from Georgia when performing official duties related to the conduct of exercises and operations within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Partnership for Peace programme.

6. Representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace programme, when performing official duties not related to the conduct of exercises and operations within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Partnership for Peace programme, shall enjoy visa-free movement when entering Georgia, transiting through and leaving Georgia, subject to the prior written consent of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

7. Representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and of the countries participating in the Partnership for Peace programme shall, in the performance of their official duties, also enjoy the benefits established by paragraph 3 of Article 12 and paragraph 3 of Article 20 of this Law.

8. The authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia may, in special cases determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, permit a foreigner to cross the state border of Georgia without a travel document and to stay in Georgia for a period of up to 3 months.

9. In the case provided for by subparagraph „f“ of paragraph 2 of Article 9 of the Law of Georgia on International Protection, a foreigner or a stateless person shall not, for the purposes of this Law, derive the right to lawfully stay in Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 5. Grounds for entry into and stay in Georgia The grounds for entry into and stay in Georgia are:🔗

a) a visa of Georgia;

b) a residence permit in Georgia;

c) a temporary residence certificate of a person enjoying international protection in Georgia;

d) a temporary identification certificate;

e) other cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016.

Article 6. General Conditions for Issuing a Georgian Visa 1. A Georgian visa shall be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, as well as by a diplomatic representation and consular institution of Georgia abroad. In special cases determined by Resolution of the Government of Georgia, a Georgian visa may be issued at the state border of Georgia.🔗

1¹. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall issue an immigration visa to a foreigner staying in Georgia on a legal basis in accordance with the procedure established by Article 8 of this Law. For this purpose, the foreigner shall apply with a corresponding application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia no later than 45 days before the expiry of the term of his/her legal stay in Georgia.

1². The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall issue an electronic visa to a foreigner located abroad if the corresponding visa application was submitted through the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia – e-VISA PORTAL.

2. A foreigner in whose country of citizenship Georgia does not have a diplomatic representation or consular institution may apply to the nearest Georgian diplomatic representation or consular institution to obtain a Georgian visa.

2¹. The issuance of a Georgian visa or the performance of individual actions necessary for issuing a Georgian visa to a foreigner in whose country of citizenship Georgia does not have a diplomatic representation or consular institution may be entrusted to a third state. The conditions for the issuance of a Georgian visa or for the performance of individual actions necessary for issuing a Georgian visa shall be determined by the relevant international treaty and agreement.

3. A foreigner who is in a third state may apply to the Georgian diplomatic representation or consular institution located in the country of residence to obtain a Georgian visa if he/she has a valid multiple-entry visa of the country of residence or a valid residence permit. In the case of issuing a Georgian visa to this category of foreigner, the validity period of the above-mentioned visa or residence permit of the country of residence must exceed the validity period of the Georgian visa by 3 months.

3¹. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is authorized to entrust to a commercial intermediary the performance of individual actions necessary for issuing a Georgian visa. The conditions for the performance by a commercial intermediary of individual actions necessary for issuing a Georgian visa shall be determined by a contract concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the commercial intermediary.

4. In exceptional cases, a Georgian visa may be issued on international legal or humanitarian grounds or on the basis of the state interests of Georgia, if the foreigner cannot meet the established requirements and conditions for obtaining a Georgian visa. In such a case, a single-entry visa with a validity period of 30 calendar days shall be issued to him/her, and after the foreigner's entry into Georgia – a temporary residence certificate.

5. A foreigner may be issued a single-entry or multiple-entry visa with the right to enter Georgia, if he/she meets the requirements and conditions established for obtaining a Georgian visa.

6. A single-entry short-term visa may be issued in accordance with the number of days indicated by the foreigner in the visa application, but for no more than 30 days.

7. A multiple-entry short-term visa may be issued for a validity period of no more than 5 years. At the same time, the total period of entry into and stay in Georgia of the foreigner shall not exceed 90 calendar days in any 180-day period. A multiple-entry short-term visa shall be issued to a foreigner who, during the previous year, has stayed in Georgia at least once in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and who has grounds for requesting a multiple-entry short-term visa, unless otherwise provided by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

8. A long-term visa shall be issued with the right of multiple entry, for a validity and stay period in Georgia of 90 calendar days or 1 year. A long-term visa with a validity period of 1 year shall be issued only in the case of issuance of a D5 category immigration visa. A long-term visa is a precondition for diplomatic accreditation or for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia, unless otherwise provided by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

9. The procedure for issuing a Georgian visa, extending its validity period and terminating its validity shall be established by the Government of Georgia. The Government of Georgia is entitled, in connection with the issuance of a Georgian visa, the extension of its validity period and the termination of its validity, to establish time limits and a procedure for submitting and considering an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia.

10. A Georgian visa shall not be issued to a foreigner who, at the time of submission of the visa application, is in Georgia on the basis of a deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 7. Visa categories of Georgia 1. A visa of Georgia is divided into the following categories:🔗

a) Diplomatic (category A);

b) Special (category B);

c) Ordinary (category C);

d) Immigration (category D);

e) Transit (category T).

2. A visa of Georgia may be short-term and long-term.

3. A visa of Georgia is issued:

a) Diplomatic visa:

a.a) of category A1 – to first persons of the legislative and executive authorities of another state arriving in Georgia on a state, official, working, friendly or unofficial visit, to members of highest and high-level delegations and their accompanying family members;

a.b) of category A2 – to employees of diplomatic and equated representations accredited in Georgia, to consular officials of consular institutions and their family members; to those employees of representations of international organizations located in the territory of Georgia to whom Georgia has granted diplomatic status, and their family members;

a.c) of category A3 – to diplomatic couriers, to persons arriving in Georgia on a special diplomatic mission;

a.d) of category A4 – to honorary consuls of Georgia and their family members, if they are citizens of another country;

a.e) of category A5 – proceeding from the state interests of Georgia, to persons arriving in Georgia on various missions, to holders of a diplomatic passport arriving in Georgia on a working visit;

b) Special visa:

b.a) of category B1 – to members of a delegation of another state, to holders of a service/official passport arriving in Georgia on a working visit, as well as to accompanying family members and other accompanying persons of the said persons;

b.b) of category B2 – to members of the administrative-technical and service personnel of a diplomatic representation of another state, to consular employees and service personnel of a consular institution, as well as to their family members and private domestic workers; to employees of representations of international and humanitarian organizations located in the territory of Georgia and their family members; to private domestic workers accompanying recipients of a diplomatic visa of category A2;

b.c) of category B3 – to persons arriving in Georgia on the basis of international bilateral and multilateral treaties of Georgia, to members of peacekeeping forces and other military contingents stationed in the territory of Georgia on the basis of an international treaty of Georgia and their family members;

b.d) of category B4 – proceeding from the state interests of Georgia, to persons arriving in Georgia on various missions;

c) Ordinary visa:

c.a) of category C1 – to persons arriving in Georgia for tourist purposes;

c.b) of category C2 – to persons arriving in Georgia to visit relatives and friends;

c.c) C3 category – for persons coming to Georgia to hold business meetings and negotiations, for participants of a scientific seminar, conference, other scientific-research, pedagogical, cultural or sports event, for persons coming to Georgia to carry out journalistic activity, for crew members of a ship standing in a Georgian port, if visa-free movement of ship crew members is not determined by an international treaty of Georgia; during international cargo transportation/passenger carriage, for the main and additional drivers of a cargo/passenger motor vehicle;

c.d) C4 category – in the presence of a situation involving a threat to life and health, for persons coming to Georgia to receive or provide humanitarian aid, to carry out charitable activity, for the guardian or curator of a citizen of Georgia, for a person under the guardianship or curatorship of a citizen of Georgia, for persons coming to Georgia for treatment, to visit the graves of relatives and close persons, to worship at holy places and to establish religious contacts;

d) Immigration visa:

d.a) D1 category − for a foreigner who has received the right to labour activity, as well as for a foreigner coming to Georgia to carry out entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the Law of Georgia "on Entrepreneurs";

d.b) D2 category – for persons coming to Georgia on a scientific, sports, cultural or educational mission; for persons of free profession; for foreigners who are travelling to Georgia to undergo an internship or as volunteers; for mass media workers who are travelling to Georgia to perform their official duties;

d.c) D3 category – for persons coming to Georgia to study or conduct research at an educational institution authorized in Georgia or on its base; for persons coming to Georgia to study within the framework of international programmes;

d.d) D4 category – for persons coming to Georgia for the purpose of family reunification;

d.e) D5 category − for a person who, on the territory of Georgia, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, has the right of ownership to an immovable thing (except for land of agricultural designation), the market value of which exceeds the GEL equivalent of 150,000 US dollars, as well as for his/her spouse and child/children. For the issuance of a D5 category immigration visa, the market value of the immovable thing is determined by a certified appraiser of an organ accredited by the Legal Entity of Public Law − the Unified National Accreditation Body − the Accreditation Centre;

e) Transit visa – in the case of transit passage (10 days) through the territory of Georgia for the purpose of entering a third state.

4. Holders of an A1 category visa enjoy diplomatic immunity in Georgia during the period of validity of the visa.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 - website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 05.06.2019.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13 April 2021.

Law of Georgia of 17 May 2023 No. 2928 – website, 2 June 2023.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 863 – website, 1 July 2025.

Article 8. Procedures Required for Obtaining a Georgian Visa 1. To obtain a Georgian visa, a foreigner shall fill in a visa application of the form established by a normative act of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. For the issuance of an electronic visa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, except in the case of the issuance of a category D electronic immigration visa to a foreigner lawfully staying in Georgia, the foreigner shall fill in the visa application posted on the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia – e-VISA PORTAL.🔗

1¹. The decision on the issuance of a Georgian immigration visa to a foreigner lawfully staying in Georgia shall be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The receipt of the documentation required for the issuance of an immigration visa to a foreigner lawfully staying in Georgia and the affixing of a visa in a travel document or the electronic issuance of a Georgian visa shall be ensured by the legal entities of public law operating in the area of governance of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia – the Public Service Hall (hereinafter – the Public Service Hall) and the Public Service Development Agency (hereinafter – the Agency) or shall be ensured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The authority of the Agency provided for by this paragraph may be transferred to a municipality on the basis of a delegation contract.

1². In the case provided for by paragraph 1¹ of this article and paragraph 4¹ of Article 9 of this Law, the exercise of the delegated authority shall be subject to state sectoral supervision by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by the Organic Law of Georgia "Local Self-Government Code".

1³. For the purpose of determining the powers of the bodies provided for by paragraph 1¹ of this article, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia shall issue a joint order.

2. The circumstances the confirmation of which is necessary for obtaining a Georgian visa and/or the documents to be attached to the visa application shall be determined by a resolution of the Government of Georgia.

3. The body issuing a Georgian visa may, where necessary, invite the person wishing to obtain a visa and/or his/her representative to an interview.

4. In the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia, a foreigner shall be required to submit an invitation.

5. (Deleted – 8 May 2015, No. 3602).

6. (Deleted – 8 May 2015, No. 3602).

7. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, a diplomatic representation of Georgia abroad and a consular institution shall make a decision on the issuance of a short-term Georgian visa within 10 calendar days from the submission of the respective visa application. A short-term Georgian electronic visa shall be issued through the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia − e-VISA PORTAL − no later than 5 working days from the submission of the visa application. The time limit for making a decision on the issuance of a short-term Georgian visa, except for the case where the short-term Georgian electronic visa is issued on the basis of a visa application submitted through the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia − e-VISA PORTAL −, may be extended by 30 calendar days, if further verification of the visa application is required. The time limit for making a decision on the issuance of a short-term Georgian visa, except for the case where the short-term Georgian electronic visa is issued on the basis of a visa application submitted through the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia − e-VISA PORTAL −, may be reduced to 5 working days or to a shorter period in cases determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia. The time limit for issuing a short-term electronic visa on the basis of a visa application submitted through the special website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia − e-VISA PORTAL − may be reduced to a period shorter than 5 days also in urgent cases determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, a diplomatic representation of Georgia abroad and a consular institution shall make a decision on the issuance of a D category (except for the D5 category) long-term immigration Georgian visa within 30 calendar days from the submission of the respective visa application. A decision on the issuance of a D5 category immigration visa shall be made within 10 calendar days from the submission of the respective visa application.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26 November 2014.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3344 – website, 31 March 2015.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15 May 2015.

Article 9. Extension of the Validity Period of a Georgian Visa 1. An alien located in Georgia is entitled to request extension of the validity period of short-term diplomatic and special visas of Georgia, as well as D3 category and D5 category immigration visas, if the alien meets the conditions for the issuance of the relevant visa. When extending the validity period of a D5 category immigration visa, the alien shall be released from the obligation to submit a re-evaluation of the market value of immovable property.🔗

2. Persons coming to conduct research at an authorized educational institution in Georgia and persons coming to Georgia to study within the framework of international programs have the right to extend the validity period of a D3 category immigration visa, if the ground for extension of the visa validity period does not provide for the possibility of these persons staying in Georgia for more than 3 months.

3. Decisions on the extension of the validity period of diplomatic and special visas of Georgia, as well as D3 category and D5 category immigration visas, shall be made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall ensure the acceptance of the documentation required for extending the validity period of diplomatic and special visas of Georgia.

4¹. The Public Service Hall and the Agency shall ensure the acceptance of the documentation required for extending the validity period of D3 category and D5 category immigration visas. The authority of the Agency provided for by this paragraph may be transferred to a municipality on the basis of a delegation contract.

4². During the relevant administrative proceedings, the period of stay in Georgia of an alien who has submitted a visa application for the extension of the validity period of a Georgian visa provided for by paragraph 2 of this article shall be deemed valid, and he/she shall be released from the obligation to pay the fine established by Georgian legislation. Before a final decision is made within the framework of the administrative proceedings on the extension of the validity period of the said Georgian visa, the alien may not be expelled from Georgia. Appealing, in accordance with the procedure established by Georgian legislation, a decision on refusal to extend the validity period of a Georgian visa defined by this paragraph shall not hinder the consideration by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia of the issue of expulsion of the alien from Georgia and/or the enforcement of a decision on expulsion of the alien from Georgia.

5. When considering the issue of extension of the validity period of a Georgian visa, the provisions of Chapters II and III of this Law shall apply.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15 May 2015.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 7 July 2025.

Article 10. Exemption from Visa Obligations of Georgia 1. A foreigner may be exempted from the visa obligations of Georgia on the basis of the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. A foreigner who does not require a short-term visa of Georgia for entry into Georgia shall enter and stay in Georgia for no more than 90 calendar days in any 180-day period.

3. The list of countries whose citizens may enter Georgia without a visa and stay in Georgia for a period different from that provided for by paragraph 2 of this article — stay for a full 1 year — shall be determined by a resolution of the Government of Georgia.

3¹. A foreigner who has a visa of a country determined by a resolution of the Government of Georgia and/or a residence permit may enter Georgia without a visa for the term and under the conditions provided for by the same resolution.

4. A foreigner holding a residence permit in Georgia or a temporary residence certificate of a person enjoying international protection in Georgia shall enter Georgia without a visa throughout the entire period of validity of the residence permit in Georgia.

5. A visa is not required for transit through the territory of Georgia:

a) passengers of air transport who cross the territory of Georgia without an intermediate landing at Georgian airports, if there is prior permission to cross Georgian airspace;

b) crew members and passengers of international airlines, rail or sea transport with an intermediate transfer, if the passengers have a document confirming the right to enter the country of destination and their stay in Georgia does not exceed 10 days. At the same time, passengers shall not have the right to leave the limits of the transit area specially allocated to them at the airport, station and seaport.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016.

Article 11. Grounds for refusal to issue a Georgian visa or to allow entry into Georgia 1. A foreigner may be refused the issuance of a Georgian visa or entry into Georgia:🔗

a) if he/she does not have the documents required for entry into Georgia as provided for by the legislation of Georgia;

b) if he/she is prohibited from entering Georgia or has not paid a fine imposed for staying in Georgia without a lawful ground;

b¹) if he/she has not paid a fine imposed on him/her under the legislation of Georgia;

c) if he/she submitted incomplete or false data or documents for obtaining a Georgian visa or for extending its validity period;

d) if he/she does not have health and accident insurance or sufficient financial means for living in Georgia and for returning back;

e) if his/her stay in Georgia poses a threat to the state security of Georgia and/or public order, to the protection of the health, rights and lawful interests of citizens of Georgia and other persons residing in Georgia;

f) if, proceeding from foreign-policy expediency, his/her stay in Georgia is unacceptable;

g) if there is a reasonable suspicion that, after the expiry of the visa validity period, he/she will remain in Georgia without a lawful ground;

h) if he/she does not provide information or provides false information about his/her identity and the purpose of travel;

i) in other cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. A foreigner shall be refused the issuance of a Georgian visa or entry into Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2¹. In the case of refusal to issue a Georgian visa or to allow entry into Georgia on the ground provided for by subparagraph "b", "e" or "f" of paragraph 1 of this Article, there shall be a conclusion of the authorised body on the inexpediency of issuing a Georgian visa.

3. In the cases provided for by subparagraphs "b", "e" and "f" of paragraph 1 of this Article, the conclusion on the inexpediency of issuing a Georgian visa or of entry into Georgia shall not be substantiated.

4. A foreigner who, as a result of inspection at a border crossing point, has been refused entry into Georgia shall return back.

5. If, in the case provided for by paragraph 4 of this Article, a foreigner is unable, for a legal or factual reason, to leave the border control zone immediately, he/she shall be temporarily placed in the border control zone, under supervision, in a place specially designated for that purpose.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025

Article 12. Inspection at a border crossing point🔗

1. Upon entry into Georgia, a foreigner shall undergo inspection at a border crossing point.

2. The inspection of a foreigner at a border crossing point shall be carried out by an authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in accordance with the legislation of Georgia. As a result of the inspection, it:

a) grants the foreigner consent to enter Georgia;

b) refuses the foreigner entry into Georgia and returns him/her back.

3. Representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and of the countries participating in the "Partnership for Peace" programme shall be exempt from undergoing inspection at a border crossing point, when entering Georgia, transiting through and leaving Georgia for the performance of official duties, in accordance with the procedure established by paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 4 of this Law.

Article 13. Obligation of the carrier company🔗

1. The carrier company shall be obliged to:

a) check the documents of the foreigner in order to establish whether he/she holds a valid Georgian visa and travel documents provided for by this Law for entry into Georgia;

b) upon arrival, present the foreigner for inspection at a border crossing point;

c) return back the foreigner who has been refused entry into Georgia.

2. The carrier company shall be obliged to bear the costs of transportation and of the stay arising before the return, upon the return of a foreigner who, as a result of inspection at a border crossing point, has been refused entry into Georgia on the ground that he/she did not have the ground for entry into and/or stay in Georgia and travel documents provided for by this Law for entry into Georgia.

3. If, as a result of inspection at a border crossing point, a foreigner has been refused entry into Georgia, except in the case provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the State shall be obliged to bear the costs of the stay arising before the return of the foreigner, while upon the return of the foreigner the carrier company shall bear the costs of transportation.

4. The carrier company shall be entitled to demand from the foreigner returned by it reimbursement of the costs which it incurred due to the refusal of entry into Georgia to the foreigner.

5. In the event of non-fulfilment of the obligation established by this Article (except for subparagraph "a" of paragraph 1 of this Article), the carrier company shall be held liable in accordance with the procedure established by the administrative legislation of Georgia.

Article 14. Body issuing a residence permit in Georgia and general conditions for issuing a residence permit 1. A residence permit in Georgia shall be issued to an alien lawfully staying in Georgia who meets the conditions determined by this Law. A residence permit in Georgia shall be issued by the Agency.🔗

1¹. An asylum seeker shall not be considered a person lawfully staying in Georgia for the purposes of issuing a residence permit in Georgia.

1². A residence permit in Georgia shall not be issued to an alien who, at the moment of submitting an application requesting the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia, is staying in Georgia on the basis of deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia.

1³. A residence permit in Georgia (except for an investment residence permit, a special residence permit and temporary residence permits provided for by subparagraphs „i“ and „l“ of Article 15 of this Law) shall not be issued on the basis of an ordinary visa of category C.

1⁴. A residence permit in Georgia (except for an investment residence permit, a special residence permit and temporary residence permits provided for by subparagraphs „i“ and „l“ of Article 15 of this Law) shall not be issued to an alien who is staying in Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 3¹ of Article 10 of this Law.

2. An alien lawfully staying in Georgia who holds any type of residence permit provided for by Article 15 of this Law shall be entitled to apply to the Agency in order to obtain another type of residence permit, if he/she meets the requirements established for the issuance of the corresponding type of residence permit.

3. (Removed - 08.05.2015, No. 3602).

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2025 No. 670 – website, 13.06.2025.

Article 15. Types of residence permit: the following types of residence permits shall be issued in Georgia:🔗

a) labour residence permit, which is issued to a foreigner who has obtained the right to labour activity. In order to obtain a labour residence permit, the foreigner shall submit to the Agency a document confirming entrepreneurial or labour activity in Georgia, as well as a certificate confirming that the monthly income/remuneration received by him from entrepreneurial or labour activity in Georgia is not less than five times the subsistence minimum for an average consumer determined in Georgia, and that the annual turnover of his employer enterprise/established enterprise (except an educational or medical institution) is not less than GEL 50,000 per each foreigner wishing to obtain a labour residence permit. The annual turnover of the foreigner's employer/established educational or medical institution for the purposes of this Article shall be not less than GEL 35,000 per each foreigner wishing to obtain a labour residence permit;

b) study residence permit, which is issued for the purpose of studying at an authorized educational institution in Georgia;

c) residence permit for the purpose of family reunification, which is issued to family members of a foreigner holding a residence permit;

d) residence permit of a former citizen of Georgia, which is issued to a foreigner whose citizenship of Georgia has been terminated;

e) residence permit of a stateless person, which is issued to a person who has been granted the status of a stateless person in Georgia;

f) special residence permit, which is issued to a foreigner in respect of whom there is a reasonable assumption that he may be a victim of or injured party to the crime of human trafficking (trafficking) in the cases provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Combating Human Trafficking (Trafficking)", to a foreigner in respect of whom a member of the Government of Georgia submits a written initiative on the issuance of a temporary residence permit in Georgia, to persons provided for by Article 60 of this Law, and to a citizen of another state having the status of a compatriot living abroad;

g) permanent residence permit, which is issued to the spouse, minor child of a citizen of Georgia, to the parent of a minor citizen of Georgia. A permanent residence permit shall also be issued to a foreigner who has lived in Georgia on the basis of a temporary residence permit during the last 10 years. The period of living in Georgia for the purpose of study or medical treatment and of working in diplomatic missions and missions equated to them shall not be counted in this term;

h) investment residence permit, which is issued to a foreigner and his/her family members who, in accordance with the Law of Georgia “On Promotion of Investment Activity and Guarantees”, have made an investment in the amount of not less than the equivalent in GEL of USD 300,000, or who, in the territory of Georgia, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, hold the right of ownership over an immovable thing (except agricultural land) whose market value exceeds the equivalent in GEL of USD 300,000. For the issuance of an investment residence permit, the market value of the immovable thing shall be determined by a certified appraiser of a body accredited by the Accreditation Centre of the Legal Entity of Public Law − the Unified National Accreditation Body. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the family members of a foreigner shall be considered: a spouse, a minor child and a support recipient or a person incapable of work who is fully dependent on the foreigner, as well as a person fully dependent on the foreigner who has been declared incapable in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the respective country;

i) temporary residence permit, which is issued to a foreigner who, in accordance with the Law of Georgia “On Elimination of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection of and Assistance to Victims of Violence”, is a victim and for whose protection a restraining order or a protective order has been issued and/or against whom, in connection with a committed fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence, criminal prosecution measures are being conducted and/or who uses the services of a shelter or crisis centre for victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence;

j) short-term residence permit, which is issued to a foreigner who, in the territory of Georgia, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, holds the right of ownership over an immovable thing (except agricultural land) whose market value exceeds the equivalent in GEL of USD 150,000, as well as to his/her spouse and child/children. For the issuance of a short-term residence permit, the market value of the immovable thing shall be determined by a certified appraiser of a body accredited by the Accreditation Centre of the Legal Entity of Public Law − the Unified National Accreditation Body;

k) A permanent residence permit, which is issued to that foreigner and his family members who hold an investment residence permit issued on the basis of making an investment in the amount of 300,000 US dollars in GEL equivalent, and who has a confirmed annual turnover from entrepreneurial activity carried out in Georgia of not less than 50,000 US dollars in GEL equivalent during the first year, not less than 100,000 US dollars in GEL equivalent during the second year, and not less than 120,000 US dollars in GEL equivalent during the third, fourth and fifth years, or to that foreigner and his family members who hold an investment residence permit issued on the basis of owning an immovable thing of a value exceeding 300,000 US dollars in GEL equivalent, and who has the right of ownership over this immovable thing for 5 years from receipt of the investment residence permit. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the family members of a foreigner shall be considered: a spouse, a minor child and a recipient of support who is fully dependent on the foreigner or a person incapable of work, as well as a person fully dependent on the foreigner who has been declared legally incapable in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the respective country;

l) Temporary residence permit of a person employed in the information technology (IT) sphere, which is issued to a labour migrant employed in the information technology sphere registered with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia and to his/her family members, to an alien who is registered in Georgia as an individual entrepreneur with the status of small business and carries out the activity defined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia in the information technology sphere, and to his/her family members, as well as to a person authorised to manage and represent an international company operating in the information technology sphere and to his/her family members. A person authorised to manage and represent an international company operating in the information technology sphere shall submit to the Agency a document confirming the authority to manage and represent the international company operating in the information technology sphere. A labour migrant employed in the information technology sphere registered with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, and an alien who is registered in Georgia as an individual entrepreneur with the status of small business and carries out the activity defined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia in the information technology sphere, shall submit to the Agency a document confirming at least 2 years' experience in carrying out labour or economic activity in the information technology sphere, as well as a certificate confirming that the amount of remuneration received by him/her as a result of carrying out labour or economic activity in the information technology sphere is not less than the GEL equivalent of USD 25,000 annually. The procedure for the submission of the required documents by the persons provided for by this paragraph and the additional documents to be submitted shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2705 – website, 31.10.2014.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3344 – website, 31.03.2015.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 779 – website, 25.05.2017.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 05.06.2019.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 22 December 2022 No. 2481 – website, 30.12.2022.

Law of Georgia of 17 May 2023 No. 2928 – website, 02.06.2023.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2025 No. 670 – website, 13.06.2025.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 863 – website, 01.07.2025.

Article 16. Term of Validity of a Residence Permit 1. Of Article 15 of this Law:🔗

a) the temporary residence permits in Georgia provided for by subparagraphs „a“–„c“ shall initially be issued for a term of 6 months to 1 year;

a¹) the temporary residence permit in Georgia provided for by subparagraph „f“ (except for the case provided for by subparagraph „d“ of this paragraph) shall initially be issued for a term of 1 year;

b) the temporary residence permit provided for by subparagraph „d“ shall initially be issued for a term of 6 years;

c) the temporary residence permit provided for by subparagraph „e“ shall initially be issued for a term of 3 years;

d) the special residence permit provided for by subparagraph „f“ shall, if a member of the Government of Georgia submits a written initiative on the issuance of a temporary residence permit in Georgia to a foreigner, initially be issued for a term of up to 5 years;

e) the investment residence permit provided for by subparagraph „h“ may be issued to a foreigner for a term of 5 years. A foreigner holding an investment residence permit shall, in the event of making an investment, during the period of holding the investment residence permit, annually, before the expiry of each year of the term of validity of the investment residence permit, submit to the Agency information from the legal entity of public law – the Revenue Service on the annual turnover from the entrepreneurial activity carried out by him in Georgia. The term of validity of an investment residence permit shall be terminated if the foreigner fails to prove an annual turnover from the entrepreneurial activity carried out by him in Georgia of not less than the equivalent in GEL of 50,000 US dollars during the first year, not less than the equivalent in GEL of 100,000 US dollars during the second year, and not less than the equivalent in GEL of 120,000 US dollars during the third, fourth and fifth years. A person holding an investment residence permit issued on the basis of ownership of an immovable thing with a value of the equivalent in GEL of 300,000 US dollars shall retain the right of ownership over the immovable thing on the basis of ownership of which the investment residence permit was issued, or the right of ownership over a replacement immovable thing, in compliance with the condition provided for by paragraph 1³ of Article 21 of this Law;

f) the short-term residence permit provided for by subparagraph „j“ may be issued to a foreigner and its term of validity may be extended by 1 year each time. The term of validity of the said short-term residence permit shall be terminated if the foreigner loses the right of ownership over the respective immovable thing;

g) the permanent residence permit provided for by subparagraph „g“ and the indefinite residence permit provided for by subparagraph „k“ shall be issued with the right of permanent residence;

h) the temporary residence permit provided for by subparagraph „l“ shall initially be issued for a term of 3 years.

2. In a special case, a temporary residence permit may initially be issued for a term of 5 years.

3. The validity period of the temporary residence permits provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article (except for subparagraphs „e“ and „h“ of paragraph 1) and by paragraph 2 may be extended to not more than 12 years, for the period of the alien's presumed stay in Georgia, under the same conditions under which was issued the permit whose extension of the validity period the alien requests. If the alien retains the right of ownership over the immovable thing on the basis of which the short-term residence permit provided for by subparagraph „j“ of Article 15 of this Law was issued to him/her, he/she shall be released from the obligation to submit a re-assessment of the market value of the immovable thing.

3¹. The validity period of the temporary residence permit provided for by subparagraph „h“ of paragraph 1 of this Article may be extended by 3 years at a time, to not more than 12 years.

4. A stateless person whose Georgian citizenship was terminated by renouncing Georgian citizenship, or who as of 31 March 1993 was permanently residing in Georgia, was not considered a citizen of Georgia and after 31 March 1993 was not removed from permanent registration in Georgia, shall be issued a residence permit with the right of permanent residence.

5. In order to receive an indefinite residence permit, the alien to whom an investment residence permit was issued on the basis of his/her investment of an amount equivalent in GEL to 300,000 US dollars and who held the investment residence permit for 5 years shall, before the expiry of the 5-year validity period of the investment residence permit, apply to the Agency and shall submit to it information on the turnover of the 5th year from the issuance of the investment residence permit, confirming his/her turnover of not less than the equivalent in GEL of 120,000 US dollars in the 5th year of carrying out entrepreneurial activity in Georgia, while the alien to whom an investment residence permit was issued on the basis of his/her ownership of an immovable thing of a value equivalent in GEL to 300,000 US dollars shall, before the expiry of the 5th year of the validity period of the investment residence permit, apply to the Agency and shall submit to it, from the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Agency of Public Registry (hereinafter − the Public Registry), a certificate on the ownership, for a total of 5 years, of the immovable thing on the basis of whose ownership the investment residence permit was issued to him/her, or of the immovable thing replaced in compliance with the condition provided for by paragraph 1³ of Article 21 of this Law.

6. If an alien holding an investment residence permit applies to the Agency with a request to receive an indefinite residence permit, the investment residence permit shall be retained for him/her until the Agency adopts the relevant decision.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15 May 2015.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 05.06.2019.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2025 No. 670 – website, 13.06.2025.

Law of Georgia No. 865 of 26 June 2025 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 17. Consideration and resolution of the issue of granting a residence permit in Georgia 1. To obtain a residence permit in Georgia, a foreigner shall apply to the Agency in person or through an authorised representative.🔗

2. To obtain a residence permit in Georgia, an application of a minor shall be submitted by his/her legal representative, an application of a recipient of support may be submitted only with the assistance of a supporter, unless otherwise determined by a court judgment, while an application of a person declared incapable in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the respective country shall be submitted by his/her legal representative, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of that country.

3. To obtain a residence permit in Georgia, an application and the attached documents may be submitted to the Agency in electronic form, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

3¹. The Agency shall have the right, in order to verify the existence of the grounds for granting a residence permit in Georgia, to verify the information indicated in the documents by visiting the specified place, inspecting it and interviewing the relevant persons.

4. When granting a special residence permit on the basis of a written initiative of a member of the Government of Georgia, the grounds provided for by Article 18 of this Law shall not be verified. Additional documents to be submitted by the interested person and the procedure for their submission shall be determined by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

5. A special residence permit shall be issued to a foreigner (the validity period of this permit shall be extended) in respect of whom there is a reasonable assumption that he/she may be a victim of or a person affected by the crime of trafficking in persons (trafficking), on the basis of a petition of an institution providing services to victims of trafficking in persons (trafficking) or of a body conducting the proceedings.

6. To obtain a residence permit in Georgia, an application and the attached documents shall be submitted to the Agency in the state language of Georgia. In the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia, the Agency shall be entitled to accept an application also in a non-state language. The passport of a foreigner may be submitted to the Agency without a Georgian-language translation if it contains the personal data of the foreigner in Latin transliteration.

6¹. A temporary residence permit shall be issued to a foreigner who is a victim of violence against women and/or domestic violence, and the validity period of this permit shall be extended by the Agency on the basis of a petition of an institution providing services to victims of violence against women and domestic violence or of a body conducting the proceedings.

7. The time limit for considering applications for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia and for extending the validity period of this permit shall not exceed 30 days from the complete submission to the Agency of the required documentation.

8. The Agency shall be obliged to notify the foreigner of the results of the consideration of the application in electronic form, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

9. A decision on granting a residence permit in Georgia may be appealed in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

10. The issue of granting a residence permit in Georgia shall be considered and decided in accordance with the procedure established by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 2705 of 17 October 2014 – website, 31 October 2014.

Law of Georgia No. 3344 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31 March 2015.

Law of Georgia No. 779 of 4 May 2017 – website, 25 May 2017.

Law of Georgia No. 428 of 30 March 2021 – website, 13 April 2021.

Article 18. Grounds for refusal to issue a residence permit in Georgia 1. An alien may be refused the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia if:🔗

a) there is a conclusion of an authorised body on the inexpediency of his/her living in Georgia in order to ensure the protection of the interests of state and/or public security;

b) the ground on the basis of which he/she obtained a permit to stay in Georgia no longer exists;

c) he/she carries out an activity that poses a threat to the state security and/or public order of Georgia;

d) he/she has committed a crime against peace and humanity;

e) he/she is wanted for committing a criminal offence or has been convicted, within the last 5 years before the submission of the respective application, of a criminal offence committed (unless the conviction has been expunged or removed) or criminal prosecution is pending against him/her – until the completion of the criminal proceedings;

f) he/she is infected with an infectious or other disease the nature, severity and duration of which may pose a threat to the population of Georgia. The list of such diseases shall be established by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia;

g) he/she submitted forged or legally invalid documents in order to obtain a residence permit in Georgia;

h) he/she indicated incorrect data in the respective application or concealed important information about circumstances that are of essential importance for taking a decision on the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia;

i) the requirements established by Article 15 of this Law for the issuance of the respective type of residence permit have not been met;

j) (removed – 26.06.2025, No. 865).

2. The interests of protecting the state security and/or public security (order) of Georgia provided for by subparagraphs "a" and "c" of paragraph 1 of this Article include cases where:

a) the person's presence in Georgia poses a threat to Georgia's relations with other states and/or international organisations;

b) there is information that, with a high degree of probability, indicates the person's connection with:

b.a) the armed forces of a country/organisation hostile to the defence and security of Georgia;

b.b) the intelligence services of another state;

b.c) terrorist and/or extremist organisations;

b.d) organisations engaged in the illegal circulation of drugs, arms, weapons of mass destruction or their components, trafficking in human beings (trafficking) and/or other types of criminal organisations (including transnational criminal organisations).

3. Information on the circumstance provided for by subparagraph "c" of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be provided to the body considering the case in such a form that no damage is caused to the interests of the protection of state secrets, the state security of Georgia and/or public order.

4. A residence permit in Georgia shall not be issued to an alien in respect of whom the consideration of the issue of expulsion from Georgia has been initiated under the procedure established by this Law, or a decision on expulsion from Georgia has been taken, including where such decision is appealed to a court under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia. An appeal, under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, against the Agency's decision to refuse the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia shall not hinder the consideration of the issue of the alien's expulsion from Georgia and/or the enforcement of the decision on the alien's expulsion from Georgia.

5. When considering the issue of issuing a residence permit in Georgia, the Agency shall request in writing from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia the information provided for by paragraph 4 of this Article.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3085 – website, 11 July 2018.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 05.06.2019.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 19. Re-submission of an application for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia An alien who has been refused the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia shall be entitled, on the same grounds, to re-submit an application not earlier than 1 month after the adoption of the decision on refusal of the first application.🔗

Article 20. Residence certificate 1. In respect of an alien who has obtained a residence permit in Georgia, the Agency shall issue the corresponding residence certificate.🔗

2. An alien shall be obliged to obtain the residence certificate within 1 month after obtaining the residence permit in Georgia.

3. The following shall be exempt from the obligation to obtain a residence certificate in Georgia:

a) employees of diplomatic and equivalent representations accredited in Georgia, employees of consular institutions and their family members, as well as other persons who, in accordance with an international treaty of Georgia, enjoy the relevant privileges and immunities;

b) aliens holding diplomatic and service/official passports;

c) representatives of the armed forces of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and of the countries participating in the "Partnership for Peace" programme, in the cases provided for by paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 4 of this Law;

d) aliens in other cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

4. An alien who is detained or is serving a sentence in the form of imprisonment shall, during the period of imprisonment, be exempt from the obligation to obtain a residence permit in Georgia.

Article 20¹. Obligation to provide information 1. The body authorised to issue a visa, as provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 6 of this Law, shall, within 2 weeks of the issuance of a D5 category immigration visa, provide the Public Registry with data on the foreigner holding a D5 category immigration visa (name, surname, date of birth) and information on the cadastral code of the immovable thing on the basis of ownership of which the foreigner received the D5 category immigration visa.🔗

2. The Agency shall, within 2 weeks of the issuance of a short-term residence permit provided for by subparagraph „j“ of Article 15 of this Law or an investment residence permit provided for by subparagraph „h“ of the same Article, provide the Public Registry with data on the foreigner holding a short-term or investment residence permit (name, surname, date of birth) and information on the cadastral code of the immovable thing on the basis of ownership of which the foreigner received the short-term or investment residence permit.

3. The Public Registry shall notify the body authorised to terminate the validity of a D5 category immigration visa of the termination of the foreigner's ownership right over the immovable thing on the basis of ownership of which the foreigner received the D5 category immigration visa. Such notification shall be made within 2 weeks of the termination of the foreigner's ownership right over the said immovable thing.

4. The Public Registry shall notify the Agency of the termination of the foreigner's ownership right over the immovable thing on the basis of ownership of which the short-term or investment residence permit was issued. Such notification shall be made within 2 weeks of the termination of the foreigner's ownership right over the said immovable thing.

5. In the event of termination of an employment relationship with an employee holding a residence permit, the employer shall notify the Agency thereof within 5 days of the termination of the employment relationship. In the event of failure to notify or improper notification of the said information, the employer shall be held liable as provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 5 June 2019.

Article 21. Termination of the Term of Stay in Georgia 1. The term of stay of an alien in Georgia may be terminated:🔗

a) if he submitted false or legally void documents for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia or a visa of Georgia;

b) if he carries out an activity that poses a threat to the state security of Georgia;

c) if, before the expiry of the term of stay in Georgia, he discontinued or completed his studies at an educational institution authorised in Georgia, provided that he had obtained a residence permit in Georgia on this ground;

d) if he discontinued the activity or relationship on the basis of which he had obtained a residence permit in Georgia;

e) if the purpose for which the visa of Georgia was issued no longer exists or has not been fulfilled;

f) if he is no longer a guardian or curator of a citizen of Georgia or is no longer under the guardianship or curatorship of a citizen of Georgia, provided that he had obtained a residence permit in Georgia on this ground;

g) if he entered into a fictitious marriage in order to obtain a residence permit in Georgia;

h) if the authorised body has adopted a decision on his expulsion from Georgia;

i) if he indicated incorrect data in the relevant application or concealed important information about the circumstances that were of substantial importance for adopting a decision on the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia;

j) in the event of a change of citizenship, if he had obtained a permanent residence certificate in Georgia without obtaining a residence permit;

k) if, within 6 months from obtaining a residence permit in Georgia, he did not apply to the Agency for a residence certificate;

l) if he committed a criminal offence.

1¹. The term of validity of a D5 category immigration visa, as well as of a short-term residence permit, shall be terminated in the event of termination of the right of ownership over the relevant immovable thing.

1². The term of validity of an investment residence permit shall be terminated if the alien holding this permit fails to submit to the Agency the information provided for by subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 1 of Article 16 of this Law, or if the said alien fails to substantiate, by the information submitted by him as provided for by subparagraph „e“ of paragraph 1 of Article 16 of this Law, an annual turnover of not less than USD 50,000 in GEL equivalent from the entrepreneurial activity carried out by him in Georgia during the first year, during the second year — an annual turnover of not less than USD 100,000 in GEL equivalent, and during the third, fourth and fifth years — an annual turnover of not less than USD 120,000 in GEL equivalent.

1³. The term of validity of an investment residence permit shall also be terminated if a foreigner holding an investment residence permit provided for by subparagraph “h” of Article 15 of this Law, who received the investment residence permit on the basis of holding in ownership an immovable thing worth the equivalent in GEL of 300,000 US dollars, has his ownership right to the immovable thing on the basis of holding in ownership of which he has received the investment residence permit terminated. The term of validity of the investment residence permit shall not be terminated for the said foreigner if, before the termination of the ownership right to the immovable thing, he submits to the Agency an extract from the Public Registry concerning the holding in ownership of an immovable thing of the same or greater value. The market value of the said immovable thing must be determined by a certified appraiser of a body accredited by the Accreditation Centre of the Unified National Accreditation Body, a legal entity of public law.

1⁴. The term of validity of a temporary residence permit of a person employed in the field of information technology (IT) shall also be terminated if the person holding this permit is not actually present in the territory of Georgia for 183 days or more during any continuous 12 calendar months. The time of actual presence of the said person in the territory of Georgia shall be deemed to include the time during which he was in Georgia, as well as the time during which he had specially left outside the borders of Georgia for medical treatment. The procedure for carrying out monitoring of the presence in the territory of Georgia of a person holding a temporary residence permit of a person employed in the field of information technology (IT) shall be established by the Government of Georgia.

2. The term of stay of a person in Georgia shall be terminated if a decision is taken to terminate his status as a stateless person or a compatriot living abroad.

3. The term of validity of a special residence permit issued on the basis of a written initiative of a member of the Government of Georgia shall also be terminated on the basis of a written request of the respective member of the Government of Georgia.

4. The decision on termination of the term of validity of a Georgian visa issued at the state border of Georgia shall be taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. In other cases, the decision on termination of the term of validity of Georgian visas issued shall be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, a diplomatic representation of Georgia abroad, a consular institution, or the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, taking into account which body became aware of the ground for termination of the term of validity of the Georgian visa.

5. The decision on termination of the term of validity of a foreigner’s residence permit in Georgia shall be taken by the Agency in accordance with the procedure established by Georgian legislation.

6. A Georgian visa and a residence permit in Georgia shall lose force if:

a) a new Georgian visa or residence permit in Georgia is issued to a foreigner, the validity period of which covers the validity period of a previously issued Georgian visa or residence permit in Georgia;

b) the foreigner to whom a Georgian visa or residence permit in Georgia was issued has acquired Georgian citizenship.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 30 May 2019 No. 4741 – website, 05.06.2019.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2025 No. 670 – website, 13.06.2025.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 22. Rules for determining the status of a stateless person 1. For the purpose of determining the status of a stateless person, an interested person shall submit an application to the Agency.🔗

2. The Agency shall be entitled to invite the applicant to an interview in order to establish the circumstances necessary for making a decision.

3. The Agency is authorised to use the assistance of Georgia's diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad, as well as of international organisations, in order to obtain the information necessary for the consideration of the case.

4. For a person staying in Georgia without a legal ground, the period of stay in Georgia during the administrative proceedings for determining the status of a stateless person shall be counted as excusable.

5. The Agency shall issue a temporary identification certificate to a person who has submitted an application for the purpose of determining the status of a stateless person. The temporary identification certificate shall be issued for a period of 1 year. The adoption of a decision on determining the status of a stateless person or on refusing to determine it shall result in the revocation of the temporary identification certificate.

6. The total period for the Agency to adopt a decision on determining the status of a stateless person or on refusing to determine it shall not exceed 9 months.

7. The issue of determining the status of a stateless person in Georgia shall be considered and decided in accordance with the rules established by the Government of Georgia.

Article 23. Grounds for refusal to determine the status of a stateless person in Georgia and for termination of the status of a stateless person 1. The applicant may be refused determination of the status of a stateless person in Georgia on one of the following grounds:🔗

a) if he/she has been determined to hold the citizenship of Georgia or of another country;

b) if, in order to determine the status of a stateless person, he/she submitted false documents or incorrect information on circumstances material for determining the status;

c) if there is a conclusion of an authorised body on the inexpediency of his/her residence in Georgia in order to ensure the protection of the interests of state and/or public security;

d) if it is impossible to identify him/her;

e) if there are circumstances defined by paragraph 2 of Article 1 of the 1954 UN Convention "Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons" in respect of him/her.

2. A person shall have the status of a stateless person in Georgia terminated if:

a) he/she acquired or has been determined to hold the citizenship of Georgia or of another country;

b) a ground provided for by subparagraph "b", "c" or "e" of paragraph 1 of this Article has been revealed;

c) any State party to the 1954 UN Convention "Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons" has assumed responsibility for him/her in accordance with the requirements of the same Convention.

3. (Removed on 30.03.2021, No. 428).

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Article 24. Legal status of a stateless person having status in Georgia A stateless person having status in Georgia enjoys the rights established by Chapter VI of this Law and bears the obligations established by the same Chapter.Chapter VIRights and obligations of an alien🔗

Article 25. Equality of an alien with a citizen of Georgia in rights and obligations. Guarantees of protection of the rights and freedoms of an alien 1. In Georgia, an alien has the same rights and freedoms as a citizen of Georgia and bears the same obligations as a citizen of Georgia, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. In Georgia, all aliens are equal before the law, regardless of origin, social and property status, race, national belonging, sex, education, language, religion, political and other views, field of activity and other circumstances.

3. Georgia protects the life, personal inviolability, rights and freedoms of an alien present in its territory.

4. The exercise of the rights and the performance of the obligations of an alien in Georgia shall not infringe the interests of Georgia, shall not restrict the rights of citizens of Georgia and other persons residing in Georgia, and shall not disregard their lawful interests.

Article 26. Obligation to comply with the legislation of Georgia An alien in Georgia is obliged to comply with the Constitution of Georgia and other normative acts of Georgia, to respect the local culture, traditions and customs, and the rights and freedoms of citizens of Georgia.🔗

Article 27. Granting of Georgian citizenship to an alien In accordance with the Constitution of Georgia and the Organic Law of Georgia "On Georgian Citizenship", an alien may be granted Georgian citizenship by naturalisation.🔗

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Article 28. Right to carry out investment and entrepreneurial activity in Georgia An alien may carry out investment and entrepreneurial activity in Georgia in accordance with the legislation of Georgia. In this case, he/she has the same rights and bears the same obligations as a citizen of Georgia, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 29. Right to labour activity in Georgia The labour activity of an alien is regulated by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 30. Right to health protection in Georgia An alien has the right to health protection in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 31. Right to social security 1. An alien permanently residing in Georgia has the same right to assistance, pension and other social security as a citizen of Georgia.🔗

2. The issue of social security of an alien temporarily staying in Georgia shall be resolved in accordance with the legislation of Georgia and an international treaty of Georgia.

Article 32. Property and non-property rights 1. In Georgia, an alien may, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, own, inherit or leave by will any property, and may also have non-property rights.🔗

2. Restriction of the rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be effected only by a legislative act of Georgia.

Article 33. Right to receive education An alien residing in Georgia has the right to receive education in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 34. Right to enjoy cultural values 1. In Georgia, an alien has the same right to enjoy cultural values as a citizen of Georgia.🔗

2. In Georgia, an alien is guaranteed the right to use his/her native language and to protect national culture and traditions, unless this causes damage to the state and/or public security of Georgia.

3. An alien is obliged to take care of the monuments of Georgian history and culture and other cultural values.

Article 35. Right to participate in political and public associations 1. In Georgia, an alien has no right to become a member of political associations operating in Georgia, to participate in their activities or to found them.🔗

2. In Georgia, an alien has the same right as a citizen of Georgia to found public associations, to become a member of trade unions, scientific, cultural, sports societies and other public organisations, unless this contradicts the charters of these organisations and the legislation of Georgia.

Article 36. Marriage and Family Relations 1. In Georgia, a foreigner may marry and divorce a citizen of Georgia and another person in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. A foreigner present in Georgia shall enjoy in marriage and family relations the same rights as a citizen of Georgia and shall bear the same duties as a citizen of Georgia.

Article 37. Freedom of Speech, Thought, Conscience, Religion and Belief In Georgia, a foreigner, as well as a citizen of Georgia, has freedom of speech, thought, conscience, religion and belief. It is inadmissible to persecute a foreigner on account of speech, thought, religion and belief, as well as to compel him/her to express his/her views about them.🔗

Article 38. Freedom of Movement and Choice of Place of Residence 1. In Georgia, a foreigner has the rights to free movement and free choice of place of residence.🔗

2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this article may be restricted only in accordance with law, for the purposes of ensuring state and/or public security, protecting health, preventing crime, administering justice, or protecting the rights and legitimate interests of persons residing in Georgia, as necessary for the existence of a democratic society.

Article 39. Taxation of a Foreigner A foreigner residing in Georgia shall be taxed in the same manner as a citizen of Georgia, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 40. Guarantee of Personal Rights of a Foreigner In Georgia, a foreigner is guaranteed by the legislation of Georgia the inviolability of the person and place of residence, non-interference in personal and family life, respect for dignity and reputation, the right to protection of the confidentiality of correspondence, and the right to free development of the person in the economic, social and cultural spheres.🔗

Article 41. Protection of the rights of an alien 1. In Georgia, an alien has the right, for the protection of personal, property and other rights, to apply to courts and other state bodies, regardless of his/her legal status.🔗

2. During legal proceedings, an alien enjoys the same procedural rights as a citizen of Georgia.

2¹. During legal proceedings, an alien may, at his/her own expense, enjoy the right to the services of a lawyer, however the participation of a lawyer in the proceedings is not mandatory. At the same time, a lawyer may participate in the proceedings remotely, using technical means. During legal proceedings, the failure of a lawyer to appear for an unjustified reason does not hinder the conduct of the proceedings.

2². If, during legal proceedings, a lawyer retained by an alien fails to appear for an unjustified reason, the proceedings shall be conducted without the participation of a lawyer. In this case, a lawyer shall not be appointed at the expense of the state.

3. An alien has the right at any time to apply to the diplomatic representation or consular institution of the country of which he/she is a citizen or in which he/she permanently resides or which is authorised to protect his/her rights and legitimate interests.

4. At the request of an alien, the law enforcement bodies of Georgia shall be obliged to immediately notify the diplomatic representation or consular institution of the relevant country of his/her detention, arrest or deprivation of liberty. The operation of this paragraph shall not apply to an asylum seeker and a person enjoying international protection.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 42. Right to participate in elections and referendum In Georgia, an alien shall not have the right to participate in elections and to be elected to municipal and state government bodies, as well as to participate in a referendum.🔗

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6922 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 43. Right of assembly and manifestation In Georgia, an alien has the right of assembly and manifestation in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 44. Military obligation An alien shall not be obliged to serve in the Defence Forces of Georgia.🔗

Law of Georgia of 31 October 2018 No. 3602 – website, 21.11.2018.

Article 45. (Deleted) Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.🔗

Article 46. Right to receive asylum In accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, an international treaty of Georgia and other normative acts of Georgia, an alien in Georgia has the right to seek and receive asylum. Chapter VII Departure of an alien from Georgia🔗

Article 47. General requirements for a foreigner's departure from Georgia 1. Unless otherwise provided by Georgian legislation, a foreigner shall depart from Georgia through a border crossing point open for international traffic, if he/she has a valid travel document and has or had a permit to stay in Georgia.🔗

2. When departing from Georgia, a foreigner shall undergo inspection at a border crossing point, which shall be carried out by an authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

3. A foreigner shall be obliged to leave Georgia before the expiry of the term of lawful stay in Georgia.

4. A foreigner whose term of lawful stay in Georgia has expired shall be obliged, before departure from Georgia or after departure, to pay the fine established by Georgian legislation for staying in Georgia without a lawful ground. In case of non-payment of the fine, a visa of Georgia shall not be issued to the foreigner and he/she shall be refused entry into Georgia until he/she pays the said fine.

5. In case of departure from Georgia within 30 calendar days from the adoption of the relevant decision of the authorized body, a foreigner shall not be subject to administrative liability in the form of a fine, if:

a) his/her Georgian citizenship has been terminated;

b) he/she has been refused the determination of the status of a stateless person in Georgia or the granting of international protection;

c) the term of validity of his/her residence permit in Georgia has expired on any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „b“–„d“ of paragraph 1 of Article 21 of this Law;

d) in case of imposition of a conditional sentence, the probation period has expired, or in case of imprisonment/administrative detention, he/she has served the sentence/detention.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 - website, 15.12.2016.

Article 47¹. Obligation of a foreigner to depart from Georgia 1. The obligation of a foreigner to depart from Georgia is the obligation defined for the foreigner by Georgian legislation to leave Georgia.🔗

2. A foreigner who has no ground for lawful stay in Georgia shall, in accordance with this Law, be obliged to leave Georgia immediately.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 48. Deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia 1. A foreigner who is unable to fulfil the obligation imposed on him by paragraph 3 of Article 47 of this Law may have his obligation to leave Georgia deferred:🔗

a) if he has submitted to the Agency an application requesting the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia or the granting of Georgian citizenship;

b) in case of illness or pregnancy, when, according to a doctor's conclusion, his further travel would pose a threat to his health. In this case, his family members and accompanying persons may stay with him;

c) if proceedings are pending in a common court of Georgia with his participation and his presence in Georgia is essential for the protection of his interests;

d) if, while transiting through the territory of Georgia, he is compelled to stay in the territory of Georgia for more than 10 days. In this case, the following shall be considered a forced stop:

d.a) a natural phenomenon that impedes the movement of a train, motor vehicle, ship or aircraft;

d.b) necessary repair of a vehicle or a road traffic accident;

d.c) delay in transferring from one vehicle to another;

d.d) another case where it is impossible to move without hindrance from one place to another;

e) on the basis of a request by a competent person of a Ministry of Georgia or a state sub-agency institution.

2. The Agency shall take a decision on the deferral of the obligation of a foreigner to leave Georgia within 5 calendar days from the submission of the relevant application to it.

3. A foreigner shall submit to the Agency an application for the deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia on the ground defined by subparagraph "c" of paragraph 1 of this Article at least 14 calendar days before the expiry of the period of his stay in Georgia on legal grounds.

4. On the basis of the submission by a foreigner to the Agency of an application requesting the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia or the granting of Georgian citizenship, the Agency shall consider on its own initiative the issue of deferral of his obligation to leave Georgia. The obligation of the said foreigner to leave Georgia may be deferred for the duration of the administrative proceedings on the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia or the granting of Georgian citizenship.

5. In a special case, on the basis of a reasoned request, the obligation of a foreigner to leave Georgia may be deferred once, for a period of up to 3 months, for the same purpose for which he was granted permission to stay in Georgia.

6. An application on the deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia and the attached documents shall be submitted to the Agency in accordance with the procedure established for submitting an application for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia. If the foreign applicant is no longer interested in the deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia, he/she is entitled, at any stage of the administrative proceedings, to apply to the Agency and request the termination of the administrative proceedings. When considering/deciding the matter, communication with the foreign applicant shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established for communication with an interested person when considering/deciding the matter of issuing a residence permit in Georgia.

7. The obligation to leave Georgia provided for by this Article shall not be deferred to a foreigner if, in respect of him/her, the consideration of the matter of expulsion from Georgia has been initiated in accordance with the procedure established by this Law, or a decision on expulsion from Georgia has been adopted, including in the case of appealing that decision in court in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

8. Appealing a decision adopted on the grant of/refusal to grant the right to carry out employment activity shall not create a legal ground for the deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia provided for by this Article.

9. Appealing, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, a decision of the Agency on refusal of the deferral of the obligation of a foreigner to leave Georgia, adopted on the basis of paragraph 7 of this Article, shall not hinder the consideration by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia of the matter of expulsion of the foreigner from Georgia and/or the enforcement of the decision on expulsion of the foreigner from Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 863 – website, 01.07.2025.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 49. Refusal of departure from Georgia — a foreigner may be refused departure from Georgia:🔗

a) if, on the basis of a court judgment, he/she is restricted from leaving Georgia;

b) if he/she has been convicted of a committed crime – until serving the sentence or until release from the sentence;

c) in the case provided for by the legislation of Georgia, if he/she evades the performance of an obligation imposed on him/her by a competent administrative body of Georgia – until the performance of the obligation;

d) in other cases provided for by the legislative acts of Georgia.

Article 49¹. Exit from Georgia of a child born in Georgia through extracorporeal fertilisation (surrogacy) 1. The exit from Georgia of a child born in Georgia through extracorporeal fertilisation (surrogacy) shall be possible only if both parents of the child are indicated in the record of the civil act of birth performed by the Legal Entity of Public Law operating in the field of governance of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia – the Public Service Development Agency.🔗

2. The rule for the exit from Georgia of a child born in Georgia through extracorporeal fertilisation (surrogacy) shall be determined by a joint order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 4 March 2016 No. 4846 - website, 22.03.2016.

Article 50. Legal basis for the expulsion of an alien from Georgia The legal basis for the expulsion of an alien from Georgia is this Law, the international treaties of Georgia, the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia and other relevant normative acts. Chapter IX Rule for the consideration and resolution of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia🔗

Article 51. Expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. An alien may be expelled from Georgia if:🔗

a) he entered Georgia without a legal ground;

b) there no longer exists a legal ground for his further stay in Georgia;

c) there are sufficient grounds for assuming that he will pose a threat to the state security, public security and/or legal order of Georgia;

d) his expulsion from Georgia is necessary for the purpose of protecting the health, rights and legal interests of citizens of Georgia and other persons staying in Georgia on a legal ground;

e) he systematically violates the legislation of Georgia;

f) he obtained a legal ground for entering or staying in Georgia by submitting a forged or legally invalid document;

g) he is serving a sentence in a penitentiary institution of Georgia for committing a crime provided for by the Criminal Code of Georgia − upon serving the sentence or upon release on any other ground;

h) he has been imposed a non-custodial sentence – before serving the sentence, or if he has been given a conditional conviction by a court – before the expiry of the probation period.

2. If administrative proceedings are ongoing to determine the status of a stateless person for an alien, the operation of subparagraphs „a“ and „b“ of paragraph 1 of this article shall not extend to him during the administrative proceedings. At the same time, if administrative proceedings are ongoing to extend the validity period of a Georgian visa for an alien, the operation of subparagraph „b“ of paragraph 1 of this article shall not extend to him during the administrative proceedings. Appealing, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, a decision taken on the basis of the administrative proceedings provided for by this paragraph shall not hinder the consideration by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia of the issue of expulsion of the alien from Georgia and/or the enforcement of the decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia.

2¹. The consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be suspended if extradition proceedings are ongoing in respect of him and/or criminal prosecution has been initiated in Georgia.

3. The expulsion from Georgia of a stateless person having status in Georgia may be carried out only in the presence of the ground provided for by subparagraph „c“ of paragraph 1 of this article, in the manner established by this Law.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No. 428 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 51¹. Obligation of an alien to cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. An alien shall be obliged, when considering the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia, during the period of voluntary departure from Georgia determined by the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia and/or during enforcement of the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia, to cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, including:🔗

a) provide it with oral and/or written information and explanations;

b) submit to it all evidence, documents and other information in his/her possession that relate to the proceedings concerning his/her expulsion from Georgia;

c) cooperate with it in order to obtain the documentation necessary for his/her expulsion from Georgia;

d) cooperate with it in order to collect the information necessary for identification and verification of his/her identity;

e) when examining the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia, notify it of his/her mobile telephone number, email address and address of actual place of residence (if any);

f) within 3 working days, notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in writing of changes to the information determined by subparagraph "e" of this article, as well as to his/her legal or civil status, including the circumstances provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 55 and Article 61 of this Law;

g) perform the obligations determined by paragraph 3 of Article 54 of this Law;

h) leave Georgia within the period of voluntary departure from Georgia determined by a decision of the authorized body;

i) have his/her photograph taken, have his/her fingerprints and palm prints taken.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 52. Initiation of consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. Decisions on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia on the grounds defined by subparagraphs „a“ and „b“ of the first paragraph of Article 51 of this Law shall be taken by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, while decisions on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia on the grounds defined by subparagraphs „c“–„h“ of the first paragraph of the same Article shall be taken by the court.🔗

2. The ground for initiating before the court the consideration of the issue of the expulsion of an alien from Georgia on any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „c“–„h“ of the first paragraph of Article 51 of this Law shall be a motion submitted to the court by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

3. State institutions shall be obliged, at the request of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, to provide it with the information at their disposal on the existence of a ground for the expulsion of an alien from Georgia.

3¹. In order to ensure the exercise of the authority provided for by the first paragraph of this Article, the employer, including a state institution or a legal entity, shall be obliged, upon the request of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, to provide it, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, with information on the employment relationship existing with the alien.

3². The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall have the right to request, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, information on labour migrants from the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia.

4. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall initiate the consideration of the issue of the expulsion of an alien from Georgia if it becomes known that any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „a“ and „b“ of the first paragraph of Article 51 of this Law for the expulsion of an alien from Georgia exists and that body has evidence confirming the relevant fact.

5. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be obliged, upon the initiation of the consideration of the issue of the expulsion of the alien from Georgia, to explain to the alien in writing, in a language understandable to him or in a language which he understands, as may reasonably be considered, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, the right to apply with an application for international protection.

Law of Georgia No. 46 of 1 December 2016 – website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia No. 865 of 26 June 2025 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 52¹. Rule for conducting administrative proceedings in the case of an application for international protection when considering the issue of expulsion from Georgia 1. After the commencement of the consideration of the issue of expulsion from Georgia, in the case of an application for international protection by an alien or a stateless person within the time limit established by paragraph 3 of Article 26 of the Law of Georgia "On International Protection", the consideration of the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia and the asylum procedure shall proceed simultaneously, within the framework of a single administrative proceeding. The procedure for the application for international protection and for the consideration of the issue of expulsion from Georgia provided for by this paragraph shall be determined by Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.🔗

2. In the case provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia/on refusal to expel an alien from Georgia and the decision related to the application for international protection/on granting international protection shall be adopted by a single individual administrative-legal act.

3. The decision provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article may be appealed within 10 calendar days from its delivery to the alien, in accordance with the rules established by Articles 21122 and 21126 of the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 53. Rule for adopting a decision on the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. A decision on the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be adopted by a court in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, within 10 working days from the discovery of the ground for expulsion of an alien from Georgia, consider the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia and, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, adopt one of the following decisions:

a) on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia;

b) on refusal to expel the alien from Georgia;

c) on deferral of the expulsion of the alien from Georgia.

3. The decision provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article shall be handed to the alien (in Georgian, as well as translated into a language understandable to him/her or into a language which he/she understands, as may reasonably be considered) in accordance with the procedure established by Article 56¹ of this Law. This decision shall briefly indicate information on the legal ground for his/her expulsion from Georgia, refusal to expel him/her from Georgia or deferral of his/her expulsion from Georgia, as well as the procedure for appealing the said decision. This decision shall be translated into a language understandable to the alien or into a language which he/she understands, as may reasonably be considered.

4. When adopting a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, the respective body adopting the decision shall take into account:

a) the duration of the alien's lawful residence in Georgia, his/her personal, social, economic and other ties with Georgia;

b) the principle of family unity, the consequences expected for the alien's family or for other persons permanently residing with him/her;

c) the alien's socio-economic and other ties with the receiving State.

5. During the administrative proceedings pending for the consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia, an interview shall be conducted with the alien in order to establish the essential factual circumstances. The date of holding this interview shall be notified to the alien 2 working days in advance, in accordance with the procedure established by Article 56¹ of this Law. He/she may additionally be notified of the time of holding the interview by telephone, of which a respective record of the telephone interview shall be drawn up.

6. In order to ensure the accuracy of the materials of the interview with the alien, the interview shall be recorded in writing and these materials shall be kept in the alien's personal file in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of Georgia "On Personal Data Protection".

7. The procedure for administrative proceedings for the consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 53¹. Detection of an alien staying in Georgia without legal grounds 1. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be entitled, within the scope of its competence, for the purposes of combating, preventing, detecting and suppressing illegal migration, to carry out the measures provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Police".🔗

2. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be entitled, in order to detect an alien staying in Georgia without legal grounds, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, to inspect a place of public purpose, including a café, a restaurant, a fast food facility, any type of public transport, a hotel or another place in public space.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 863 – website, 01.07.2025.

Article 53². Photographing an alien staying in Georgia without legal grounds, taking his/her fingerprints and palm prints 1. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or the relevant territorial body of the police shall take a photograph of an alien staying in Georgia without legal grounds or of an alien in respect of whom the examination of the issue of expulsion has been initiated on the grounds provided for by subparagraphs "c"–"h" of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law, and shall also take his/her fingerprints and palm prints. Photographing an alien under 14 years of age, taking his/her fingerprints and palm prints shall be permissible if his/her identification or verification of identity is otherwise impossible. When photographing an alien under 14 years of age, taking his/her fingerprints and palm prints, his/her rights and best interests shall be taken into account.🔗

2. If an alien refuses to be photographed or to have his/her fingerprints and palm prints taken, this personal data may be obtained through the use of proportionate coercive measures.

3. An alien's photograph, fingerprints and palm prints shall be stored in the relevant database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. This personal data shall be processed in accordance with the Law of Georgia "On Personal Data Protection".

4. The procedure for photographing, taking fingerprints and palm prints, as well as for processing this personal data shall be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 53³. Inspection of a foreigner's place of residence/workplace or other private property/possession for the purpose of detecting illegal migration 1. The authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has the right, for the purpose of identifying a foreigner staying in Georgia without a legal basis and/or verifying a foreigner's place of residence/workplace or searching for his/her travel document, to inspect the foreigner's place of residence/workplace or other private property/possession on the basis of an order of a judge of the district (city) court. The consent of a co-owner/co-possessor of private property or of the employer at the workplace is sufficient for conducting the inspection without an order of a judge of the district (city) court.🔗

2. If there is an urgent necessity to conduct the inspection and delay may cause the foreigner to hide or the destruction or concealment of his/her travel document, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has the right to start the inspection of the foreigner's place of residence/workplace or other private property/possession and, within 24 hours, submit the relevant motion to a judge of the district (city) court. When submitting this motion, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia must substantiate the urgent necessity of conducting the inspection.

3. During the inspection of a foreigner's place of residence and/or workplace, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has the right to conduct his/her questioning, identification, superficial inspection and examination, and in cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia – also other preventive and coercive measures.

4. During the inspection of a foreigner's workplace, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia may require the employer to give it the opportunity to examine the documents which confirm the existence of a legal basis for the foreigner's work in Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 2 July 2025 No. 930 – website, 08.07.2025.

Article 54. Voluntary departure from Georgia by an alien on the basis of a decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia 1. When considering the issue of the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, an alien staying in Georgia shall, at his/her request, taking into account the relevant circumstances of the specific case, be granted by the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia a reasonable period for voluntary departure from Georgia — from 7 calendar days to 30 calendar days, during which he/she must leave Georgia without incurring expenses from the State Budget of Georgia.🔗

2. When considering the issue of the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, at the stage of the interview with the alien, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall explain to the alien in writing, in a language understandable to him/her or in a language that he/she understands, as may reasonably be considered, the right to use the period for voluntary departure from Georgia.

3. In order to prevent the risk of the alien absconding, during the period for voluntary departure from Georgia he/she may be imposed with the following obligation:

a) to appear at the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or the relevant territorial body of the police no more than twice a week;

b) to provide bail in the amount of at least 3,000 GEL;

c) to surrender the travel document to the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia;

d) without immediately informing the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, not to change the address of the place of residence and other contact information indicated during the consideration of the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia;

e) in the event of absence from the relevant place of residence for more than 2 days, to notify the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia thereof;

f) to appear at the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in order to clarify the circumstances of ensuring the enforcement of the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia and/or for consultation.

4. By decision of the authorised body, an alien may be imposed with more than one obligation defined by paragraph 3 of this Article.

5. In the case provided for by subparagraph "c" of paragraph 3 of this Article, the alien shall be issued a certificate on the surrender of his/her travel document to the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

6. If there are sufficient grounds to presume that the alien has concealed the travel document, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and/or the relevant territorial body of the police shall have the right, with the written consent of the co-owner or co-holder of the alien's place of residence, to inspect the said place of residence in order to search for the travel document.

7. In the case of imposition on an alien of the obligation defined by subparagraph "d" of paragraph 3 of this article, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and/or the relevant territorial body of the police shall have the right, with the written consent of the co-owner or co-possessor of the relevant place of residence, to verify whether the alien lives at the place of residence indicated by him.

8. In the cases provided for by paragraphs 6 and 7 of this article, the refusal by an alien to allow the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and/or the relevant territorial body of the police to check the alien's place of residence for the purpose of searching for a travel document constitutes non-fulfilment (violation) of the obligation provided for by Article 51¹ of this Law.

9. An alien may not be given a time limit for voluntarily leaving Georgia or may be given a time limit of less than 7 calendar days if:

a) there is a risk of his absconding;

b) his expulsion from Georgia is carried out on the basis of subparagraph "c" of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law;

c) he has been refused the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia or has been refused the granting of international protection on the ground of the unfoundedness of the application for international protection;

d) he submitted false information or forged documents concerning material circumstances at the stage of the proceedings for the issuance of a residence certificate or the granting of international protection;

e) a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia has been taken in respect of an alien who was detained for unlawfully crossing the state border of Georgia and who has not obtained permission to stay in Georgia or has not received the right to temporary stay in Georgia;

f) his expulsion from Georgia is carried out on the basis of subparagraph "g" of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law;

g) after the commencement of consideration of the issue of his expulsion from Georgia, he repeatedly requested international protection and/or applied to the Agency for postponement of the obligation to leave Georgia;

h) he does not cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in accordance with Article 51¹ of this Law.

10. The time limit for voluntary departure from Georgia determined by a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia may be reduced and/or, before the expiry of this time limit, the decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia may be enforced if:

a) there is a risk of the alien's absconding;

b) after the adoption of the decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia:

b.a) there are sufficient grounds for assuming that the alien will pose a threat to the state security of Georgia, public security and/or public order;

b.b) the alien has repeatedly requested international protection and/or applied to the Agency for postponement of the obligation to leave Georgia;

b.c) the alien does not cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in accordance with Article 51¹ of this Law.

11. Together with a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, a decision on the reduction of the period for voluntary departure from Georgia shall be appealed, as well as a decision on determining the period of the ban on his/her entry into Georgia imposed by the decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia.

12. If the alien does not voluntarily leave Georgia, the bail provided for by subparagraph „b“ of paragraph 3 of this Article shall be used to reimburse the expenses related to his/her expulsion from Georgia.

13. In the case of voluntary departure from Georgia in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the alien shall not be released from the obligation to pay the administrative fine imposed on him/her for violation of the rules of stay in Georgia.

14. When expelling an alien from Georgia on any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „c“–„h“ of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law, he/she shall submit the relevant evidence to the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or to the court in order to confirm voluntary departure from Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 54¹. Risk of absconding of an alien — during consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia, as well as after adoption of a decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia, the risk of his/her absconding shall be assessed. The risk of absconding of an alien exists if:🔗

a) he has not left Georgia within the period for voluntary departure from Georgia;

b) when requesting a legal ground for stay in Georgia or extension of the period of stay in Georgia, the granting of Georgian citizenship, international protection or an identity document, he submitted false documents or information;

c) there are sufficient grounds for assuming that he destroyed or concealed a travel document;

d) there is a reasoned doubt about his true identity or citizenship;

e) he has repeatedly committed an intentional crime or he has committed a crime for which imprisonment was imposed on him as a punishment;

f) he has not fulfilled the obligation imposed on him as defined by paragraph 3 of Article 54 of this Law;

g) during an interview at the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, he indicated that he does not wish to fulfil the obligation to leave Georgia, or the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia concludes, taking into account his personality and behaviour, that the alien has failed to fulfil the said obligation;

h) he entered Georgia at a time when entry into Georgia was prohibited;

i) he was detained for unlawfully crossing the state border of Georgia and he has not obtained a permit to stay in Georgia or has not been granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia;

j) during consideration of the issue of his expulsion from Georgia, he left the place of residence indicated by him without immediately notifying the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia thereof;

k) he fails to appear before the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia during administrative proceedings conducted in respect of him;

l) on the basis of documentation and/or information obtained at the stage of administrative proceedings, there is a reasonable assumption that he may abscond;

m) he has no permanent or temporary place of residence in Georgia, or he does not provide the authorised person of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia with, or incorrectly indicates, information about his permanent or temporary place of residence in Georgia or other contact information.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 55. Deferral of expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. The expulsion of an alien from Georgia may be deferred for a period of up to 30 days:🔗

a) in the event of irresistible force (force majeure);

b) in the event of deterioration of his/her physical and/or mental health;

c) if he/she is a person with a disability and is without an accompanying person;

d) in the event of pregnancy, when, according to a doctor's conclusion, her further travel would pose a threat to her health;

e) if the provision by the receiving state of the documentation necessary for his/her expulsion is delayed;

f) if there is a risk of a minor being left without an accompanying person and/or of interruption of his/her education.

2. If the relevant circumstance defined by paragraph 1 of this article has not changed, the expulsion of an alien from Georgia may be deferred once, for a period of 30 days.

3. The decision on the deferral of expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be made by the relevant body that makes the decision on expulsion of the alien from Georgia.

4. The expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall not be deferred in the case provided for by subparagraph “e” of paragraph 1 of this article, if the receiving state recognizes the standard travel document of Georgia that is used for the purpose of expulsion.

Law of Georgia No. 865 of 26 June 2025 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 56. Appeal against a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, refusal to expel him/her from Georgia, or deferral of his/her expulsion from Georgia 1. The relevant reasoned decision provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 53 and paragraph 11 of Article 54 of this Law may be appealed to a court, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, within 10 days from the delivery of this decision to the alien in accordance with the procedure established by Article 56¹ of this Law.🔗

2. The exercise by an alien of the right to appeal against the decision provided for by paragraph 1 of this article does not create for the alien a basis for the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia provided for by this Law or for the deferral of the obligation to leave Georgia provided for by this Law.

3. Within the framework of a court dispute related to the expulsion of an alien from Georgia, the reduction of the period for the alien's voluntary departure from Georgia, and/or the immediate enforcement of a decision of the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia or of an order issued by a court, the placement of an alien in a temporary accommodation centre, or the application of an alternative measure to the placement of an alien in a temporary accommodation centre, the withdrawal by an alien of a claim/appeal, the appeal against a ruling issued by the court on the said issue, and/or re-application to the court with a claim shall not impede the consideration by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia and/or the enforcement of the decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 865 of 26 June 2025 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 56¹. Rule of communication with a foreigner and delivery to him of the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia 1. Communication with a foreigner shall be carried out by posting the relevant notification on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (hereinafter – the website). Any notification and/or decision adopted by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on the basis of this Law shall be deemed delivered to the foreigner from the day following the day of posting of this notification and/or decision on the website. Information on the posting of the said notification and/or decision on the website shall be sent to the foreigner in a language understandable to him or in a language he understands, as may reasonably be considered, in the form of a short text message.🔗

2. The foreigner shall be obliged to:

a) keep the username and password transferred to him;

b) in the event of loss of the username and/or password or impossibility of logging into the website, immediately apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to restore the username and/or password;

c) after receiving information on the posting of the notification and/or decision on the website in the form of a short text message, familiarise himself with this notification and/or decision using the username and password.

3. A notification and/or decision shall be delivered personally to a foreigner staying in a temporary accommodation centre, which he shall confirm by signature. In the event of the foreigner's refusal to sign, the notification and/or decision shall be considered delivered to him.

4. In the event of the foreigner leaving Georgia during the period of examination of the issue of the foreigner's expulsion from Georgia, the relevant decision provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 53 of this Law shall, along with being posted on the website, be sent to the foreigner at the email address indicated by him (if any). The said decision shall enter into force on the 15th day from its posting on the website.

5. The rule for posting on the website of the notification and decision provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 57. Time limit for enforcement of the decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. If an alien does not voluntarily leave Georgia, the decision of the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on his/her expulsion from Georgia shall be enforced by force.🔗

2. The decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be enforced within 30 calendar days from the expiry of the period determined for him/her for voluntary departure from Georgia.

3. If the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is unable to enforce the decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia because the person to be expelled is hiding or is an asylum seeker, or there is another circumstance due to which the enforcement of the said decision cannot be carried out, the counting of the time limit determined by paragraph 2 of this Article shall be suspended until the elimination of the relevant circumstance/ground.

4. In the case of suspension of the time limit for enforcement of the decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia on the basis of paragraph 3 of this Article, the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall periodically examine the circumstances determined by paragraph 3 of this Article. In the case of elimination of these circumstances, the enforcement of the decision on expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be resumed.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 - website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 57¹. Deportation from Georgia of an alien who has been sentenced to deportation from Georgia and prohibition of entry into Georgia 1. If an alien is sentenced, for the commission of a crime provided for by the Criminal Code of Georgia, to deportation from Georgia and prohibition of entry into Georgia, the said penalty may be enforced:🔗

a) immediately after the alien has served the imprisonment for a fixed term imposed as a penalty, or upon his release on any other ground, if he is serving the sentence for the commission of a crime provided for by the Criminal Code of Georgia in a penitentiary institution of Georgia;

b) before the alien has served the sentence, if he has been sentenced to a non-custodial penalty;

c) before the expiry of the probation period, if the court has imposed a conditional conviction on the alien.

2. The enforcement of the deportation of an alien from Georgia and the prohibition of entry into Georgia shall be ensured by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. For this purpose, the court adopting the decision shall, in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia, send the order on the enforcement of the judgment, together with a copy of the judgment, to the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

3. In order to enforce the deportation of an alien from Georgia and the prohibition of entry into Georgia, the alien may be placed in a temporary detention isolator or a temporary accommodation centre in accordance with the procedure established by Article 64 of this Law.

4. If an alien has been sentenced to deportation from Georgia and prohibition of entry into Georgia, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, in order to ensure the enforcement of his deportation from Georgia, initiate the relevant procedure 3 months before the alien has served the sentence or before his release on any other ground, if the said information is available.

5. In the absence of the information provided for by paragraph 4 of this Article, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, in order to ensure the enforcement of the deportation of the alien from Georgia and the prohibition of entry into Georgia, initiate the relevant procedure immediately upon receipt of the relevant information from the penitentiary institution.

6. When enforcing the deportation of an alien from Georgia and the prohibition of entry into Georgia, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall apply the rules established by this Law and by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 57². Expulsion from Georgia of an alien who has been imposed, as an administrative penalty, expulsion of the alien from Georgia and/or prohibition of the alien's entry into Georgia 1. If, for the commission of an administrative offence provided for by the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, an alien is imposed, as an administrative penalty, expulsion of the alien from Georgia and/or prohibition of the alien's entry into Georgia, the said administrative penalty may be enforced:🔗

a) immediately upon his serving the administrative penalty or immediately upon his release on any other ground, if for the commission of the relevant administrative offence he was imposed administrative detention as an administrative penalty;

b) before he has served the administrative penalty, if for the commission of the relevant administrative offence he was imposed another administrative penalty provided for by the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, except for administrative detention.

2. The resolutions on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia and/or the resolutions on the prohibition of an alien's entry into Georgia shall be enforced by the authorised bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

3. For the enforcement of the resolution on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia and/or the resolution on the prohibition of an alien's entry into Georgia, the alien may, in accordance with the procedure established by Article 64 of this Law, be placed in a temporary placement isolator or a temporary accommodation centre.

4. When enforcing the resolution on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia and/or the resolution on the prohibition of an alien's entry into Georgia, the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall apply the rules established by this Law and by the Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 58. Body authorised to enforce the decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. The decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be enforced by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by the Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.🔗

2. State institutions shall, within the scope of their competence, facilitate the enforcement of the decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia.

3. The decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be sent to the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs of Georgia within 24 hours.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 59. States to which an alien may be expelled 1. An alien may be expelled:🔗

a) to the country of his/her citizenship or to the state in which he/she has the right of lawful residence;

b) to the state from which he/she entered Georgia;

c) to any state with which Georgia has concluded a readmission or other relevant bilateral treaty;

d) to any state which consents to his/her admission.

2. It is inadmissible to expel an alien to a state in which:

a) he/she is persecuted for political belief or for an act which is not considered a crime under the legislation of Georgia;

b) he/she is persecuted for the protection of human rights and peace, for progressive social-political, scientific and creative activity;

c) his/her life or health is endangered.

3. An alien or a stateless person may not be returned or expelled against his/her will to a country where he/she would be exposed to the threat of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or of serious harm as defined by paragraph 3 of Article 38 of the Law of Georgia “on International Protection”.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 – website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 60. Right of an alien to temporary stay in Georgia🔗

1. The decision on granting an alien the right to temporary stay in Georgia and the decision on extending the term of temporary stay in Georgia shall be taken by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

2. An alien shall be granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia if there exists one of the following circumstances preventing his/her expulsion from Georgia:

a) his/her expulsion from Georgia is impossible due to the existence of any of the grounds provided for by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 59 of this Law;

b) the relevant circumstance provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 55 of this Law has not changed after the expiry of the term defined by paragraph 2 of the same Article;

c) his/her identification cannot be carried out;

d) no state declares consent to his/her admission;

e) there exists a case provided for by Article 61 of this Law.

3. The document confirming the right to temporary stay in Georgia defined by paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article – a temporary identification certificate – shall be issued to an alien by the Agency upon the application of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

4. In the event of elimination of the relevant circumstance defined by paragraph 2 of this Article, the Agency shall, upon the application of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, cancel the temporary identification certificate.

5. An alien shall be granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia for 1 year and the temporary identification certificate shall be issued to him/her for the same term. This term may be extended by a decision of the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for another 1 year, if the circumstances on the basis of which the alien was granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia still exist.

6. During the period of the alien's temporary stay in Georgia, as a rule, once every 6 months the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall examine the circumstances defined by paragraph 2 of this Article. If during the period of enjoyment by the alien of the right to temporary stay in Georgia the circumstance preventing his/her expulsion from Georgia has been eliminated, the alien's right to temporary stay in Georgia shall be cancelled and the relevant procedure for expulsion from Georgia shall be initiated against him/her.

7. The alien's right to temporary stay in Georgia shall also be cancelled if it becomes known that he/she did not meet the requirements established by paragraph 2 of this Article and/or he/she submitted incorrect information and/or false documentation, namely:

a) he/she misrepresented and/or concealed essential factual circumstances;

b) new circumstances have emerged indicating that he/she should not have been granted the right to temporary stay in Georgia;

c) he/she has been granted a right of residence by the authorized body of another state.

8. An alien shall have the right, 5 years after receiving the temporary identification certificate, to apply to the Agency for a special residence permit. A special residence permit shall be issued to an alien for a term of 1 year. This term may be extended once a year, upon the application of the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

9. If, in the case provided for by paragraph 8 of this article, the Agency refuses to issue a special residence permit to an alien and any of the circumstances defined by paragraph 2 of this same article still exists, the alien's right of temporary stay in Georgia shall be extended by a decision of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

10. An alien in respect of whom a temporary identification certificate is issued shall enjoy the rights and freedoms provided for by Articles 25, 29, 30, 33, 37 and 41 of this Law, as well as non-property rights in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 61. Inadmissibility of expulsion from Georgia1. It shall be inadmissible to expel from Georgia:🔗

a) an alien who is under the guardianship or curatorship of a citizen of Georgia;

b) an alien in respect of whom there is a reasonable assumption that he or she may be a victim of or an injured party to the crime of trafficking in persons (trafficking), during the reflection period provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Combating Trafficking in Persons (Trafficking)";

b¹) an alien who is a victim of violence against women and/or domestic violence, until the completion of the relevant proceedings and/or during the period of stay in a temporary accommodation (shelter) for victims of violence against women and domestic violence in accordance with the Law of Georgia "On the Elimination of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection of and Assistance to Victims of Violence";

c) an alien who has been given a conditional conviction or who has been imposed a non-custodial sentence, except for a decision taken by a court on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia;

d) other persons provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The expulsion from Georgia of the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article may take place only if the interests of State security and/or the protection of public order of Georgia suffer particular harm.

Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2705 – website, 31.10.2014.

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 779 – website, 25.05.2017.

Article 62. Financial provision for the enforcement of a decision on the expulsion of an alien from Georgia 1. All expenses related to the expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be borne by the person to be expelled or by the person who invited him or her.🔗

2. The expenses related to the expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be borne in part or in full by the State of Georgia, if reimbursement of the expenses in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is impossible.

Article 63. Prohibition of entry into Georgia for an alien expelled from Georgia 1. An alien expelled from Georgia shall be prohibited from entering Georgia for a period of 2 to 5 years. The period of the prohibition of entry into Georgia shall be determined by the body adopting the decision on the expulsion of the alien from Georgia.🔗

2. The prohibition of entry into Georgia shall not apply to an alien who voluntarily leaves Georgia in accordance with Article 54 of this Law. This rule shall not apply to a case of expulsion of an alien from Georgia on any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „c“–„h“ of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law.

2¹. In the case of expulsion of an alien from Georgia on any of the grounds defined by subparagraphs „a“ and „b“ of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law, the prohibition of entry into Georgia for the period determined by a decision of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, may be imposed on an alien who voluntarily leaves Georgia in accordance with Article 54 of this Law.

3. An alien expelled from Georgia shall be obliged, before leaving Georgia or after leaving, to pay the fine established by the legislation of Georgia for violation of the rules of stay in Georgia. In the event of non-payment of the fine, a visa of Georgia shall not be issued to him until the enforcement of the imposed penalty.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 63¹. Database on aliens who are or have been in Georgia without a lawful ground 1. In order to ensure state security, public security and/or legal order, a database shall be created on aliens who are or have been in Georgia without a lawful ground. The administration of this database shall be carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.🔗

2. Data and documentation processed during the consideration of the issue of expulsion of an alien from Georgia shall be stored in the database defined by paragraph 1 of this Article. This processed information shall not be public.

3. The rule for the creation and maintenance of the database defined by paragraph 1 of this Article, as well as for the processing and exchange of data, shall be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 63². Rule for the delivery of a court judgment, ruling and order to a foreigner 1. Within the framework of a court dispute related to the expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia, the reduction of the period for a foreigner's voluntary departure from Georgia and/or the immediate enforcement of a decision of the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or of an order issued by a court on the expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia, the placement of a foreigner in a temporary accommodation centre, or the application of an alternative measure to the placement of a foreigner in a temporary accommodation centre, a motion submitted to the court by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, a court notice, as well as the operative part of a judgment/ruling/order, when the court adopts a judgment, delivers a ruling or issues an order, shall be posted on the website in the manner established by Article 56¹ of this Law.🔗

2. The court judgment provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be served on a foreigner only in the Georgian language, in the manner established by Article 56¹ of this Law, and shall be considered served on him from the day following the day of its posting on the website.

3. For the purposes of this Article, the relevant database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall be accessible to persons authorised by the court.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 – website, 07.07.2025.

Article 64. Grounds for detention of a foreigner for the purpose of expulsion from Georgia and placement in the Temporary Accommodation Centre 1. For the purpose of expulsion from Georgia, a foreigner may be detained and placed in a temporary placement isolator or in the Temporary Accommodation Centre. A foreigner placed in the temporary placement isolator shall, after the adoption of the decision provided for by Georgian legislation, be transferred to the Temporary Accommodation Centre.🔗

2. On the basis of paragraph 1 of this Article, a foreigner staying in Georgia may be detained and/or placed in the Temporary Accommodation Centre:

a) if his/her identification cannot be carried out;

b) if there is a risk of his/her absconding;

c) if he/she has not fulfilled the obligations determined by the judge and provided for by an alternative measure to detention;

d) if there are sufficient grounds for assuming that he/she will pose a threat to the state security, public security and/or legal order of Georgia;

e) if he/she poses a threat to his/her own life and health;

f) to ensure the forced enforcement of the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia;

g) to ensure his/her appearance before the court;

h) if he/she, in accordance with Article 51¹ of this Law, does not cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia;

i) if he/she does not have the documents necessary for return, or the receipt of the said documents from the country provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 59 of this Law or from the transit country is delayed, or he/she refuses and/or does not cooperate with the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for the implementation of the procedures necessary for receiving the documents necessary for return from the country provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 59 of this Law;

j) for the execution of the expulsion from Georgia of a foreigner imposed as a punishment or in the form of an administrative penalty;

k) taking into account subparagraph “g” of paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Law, if he/she has committed a grave or especially grave crime in Georgia.

3. A foreigner shall be brought before the court no later than 48 hours after detention for the adoption of a decision on his/her placement in the Temporary Accommodation Centre. If within the following 24 hours the court does not adopt a decision on the placement of the foreigner in the Temporary Accommodation Centre, the foreigner shall be immediately released.

4. If there is one of the grounds provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the detained foreigner may be placed in the Temporary Accommodation Centre both before the adoption of the decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia and after the adoption of this decision.

5. A detained foreigner may be placed in the temporary accommodation centre for 3 months. If any of the grounds provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article exists, the term of placement of the foreigner in the temporary accommodation centre may be extended by an additional 6 months on the basis of a reasoned motion submitted to the court by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The total period of the foreigner’s stay in the temporary accommodation centre shall not exceed 9 months. After the expiry of this period, the foreigner shall leave the temporary accommodation centre.

6. An unaccompanied minor foreigner, a family may be placed in the temporary accommodation centre only in extreme cases, for the shortest possible period, taking into account his/her best interests.

7. Upon detention, the foreigner shall be explained, in a language understandable to him/her or in a language that he/she understands, as may reasonably be considered, in an understandable form:

a) the ground for detention;

b) the right to retain a lawyer;

c) the right to notify a person/relative of his/her choice about the detention;

d) the right to apply to a diplomatic mission/consular post;

e) the right to request a medical examination;

f) the right to appeal the detention.

8. A detained foreigner shall be given the opportunity to immediately notify a person/relative of his/her choice about the detention, if necessary, using the resources of the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the consulate of the respective state shall be immediately notified of the detention of the foreigner.

9. If the detained foreigner is a minor or a person in a helpless condition, the obligation to notify about his/her detention shall be imposed on the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The legal representative of the minor foreigner shall be notified of his/her detention.

10. When a detained foreigner is placed in the temporary accommodation centre, his/her travel document and identity document shall be kept in this temporary accommodation centre.

11. The release of a foreigner from the temporary accommodation centre does not create a ground for his/her lawful stay in Georgia.

12. The procedure for the detention of a foreigner and placement in the temporary accommodation centre shall be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2016 No. 46 - website, 15.12.2016.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 64¹. Placement of an alien in the temporary placement isolator for the purpose of expulsion from Georgia 1. Taking into account the absence of places in the temporary accommodation centre and/or other circumstances, after a decision is made on placement in the temporary accommodation centre determined by the legislation of Georgia, the alien shall be placed in the temporary placement isolator. The term of placement of an alien in the temporary placement isolator shall not exceed 60 calendar days.🔗

2. An alien placed in the temporary placement isolator shall enjoy the rights and obligations determined by the internal regulations of the temporary placement isolator.

3. The interview provided for by the legislation of Georgia and other procedures necessary for the consideration of the issue of expulsion from Georgia shall be conducted in the temporary placement isolator with an alien placed in the temporary placement isolator.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 863 – website, 01.07.2025.

Article 64². Placement of an alien in the temporary accommodation centre 1. Immediately upon placement of an alien in the temporary accommodation centre:🔗

a) an authorised person of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, in relation to an alien to be expelled from Georgia, transfer to the temporary accommodation centre information and documents about the alien, including his/her travel document and identity document;

b) the personal belongings of the alien shall be checked and his/her personal search shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure for the detention of an alien and placement in the temporary accommodation centre. All items whose storage in the territory of the temporary accommodation centre is not permitted shall be taken away from the alien. The authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall have the right to use a proportionate measure of coercion;

c) he/she shall undergo a medical examination;

d) he/she shall be photographed, and his/her fingerprints and palm prints shall be taken.

2. Upon placement of an alien to be expelled from Georgia in the temporary accommodation centre, his/her personal file shall be opened, which shall contain the documents and information forming the basis for the detention of the alien and placement in the temporary accommodation centre, the information and documents provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, as well as other documents and information provided for by the internal regulations of the temporary accommodation centre.

3. An alien placed in the temporary accommodation centre shall be informed of his/her rights and obligations in a language understandable to him/her or in a language which he/she understands, as may reasonably be considered.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 64³. Conditions for Placement of a Foreigner in the Temporary Accommodation Centre 1. A foreigner, upon placement in the Temporary Accommodation Centre, as well as a person placed in the Temporary Accommodation Centre, may be subjected to an inspection to detect prohibited items. Their personal belongings may also be searched in accordance with the procedure established by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia. For this purpose, a proportionate coercive measure may be used.🔗

2. A foreigner placed in the Temporary Accommodation Centre shall:

a) observe the rules of stay/conduct in the Temporary Accommodation Centre established by the legislation of Georgia;

b) not pose a threat to another foreigner or another person placed in the Temporary Accommodation Centre, as well as to the safety of the Temporary Accommodation Centre;

c) not intentionally cause damage to his/her own or another person's health or to the property of the Temporary Accommodation Centre.

3. In the event of non-fulfilment (violation) by a foreigner of any obligation provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, security measures defined by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia may be taken against him/her.

Article 65. Alternative measure to placement in a temporary accommodation centre for a foreigner 1. The court is entitled, on its own initiative or, where necessary, on the basis of a motion by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, to adopt a decision on the application of an alternative measure to the placement of a foreigner in a temporary accommodation centre.🔗

2. A foreigner may be assigned the following as an alternative measure to placement in a temporary accommodation centre:

a) regular appearance, not more than twice a week, at the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or the relevant territorial body of the police;

b) surety by a citizen of Georgia connected with the foreigner, or the deposit of bail in the amount of at least 3,000 GEL, or the submission of a certificate confirming the receipt of regular income;

c) the deposit of bail in an amount not exceeding 5,000 GEL;

d) the surrender of the travel document to the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia;

e) the imposition of an obligation not to change the residential address indicated by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia when considering the issue of his expulsion from Georgia.

3. Taking into account the particular circumstances of a specific case, two alternative measures of placement of the foreigner in a temporary accommodation centre provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article may be applied to the foreigner simultaneously.

4. The bail provided for by subparagraph "c" of paragraph 2 of this Article shall be deposited to the deposit account of the National Enforcement Bureau, a legal entity of public law within the governance sphere of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, by the foreigner or another person on his behalf or in his favour.

5. The court may determine 3 months as the term of validity of the alternative measure to placement of the foreigner in a temporary accommodation centre. Where necessary, this term may be extended by an additional 3 months on the basis of a reasoned motion submitted to the court by the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, but the total term shall not exceed 9 months.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 66. Place and conditions of accommodation of a detained foreigner 1. A detained foreigner shall be accommodated in a temporary accommodation centre subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.🔗

2. In the temporary accommodation centre the following shall be ensured:

a) the inadmissibility of discriminatory, dignity-infringing and degrading treatment of the foreigner;

b) treatment of the foreigner taking into account his sex, age and cultural characteristics;

c) observance of the principle of family unity in the case of placement of a family in the temporary accommodation centre;

d) protection of the rights of a minor;

e) separate accommodation of women and men.

Article 66¹. Detention of an alien who, during the consideration of the issue of his/her expulsion from Georgia and/or after a decision on his/her expulsion from Georgia is made, requests international protection, and placement in a temporary accommodation centre 1. After the commencement of the consideration of the issue of an alien's expulsion from Georgia and/or after a decision on the alien's expulsion from Georgia is made by an authorised body, after the alien submits an application for international protection or a repeated application for international protection and a decision is made on recognising this application as admissible, the alien may be detained and placed in a temporary accommodation centre if:🔗

a) there is a reasonable assumption that he/she requested international protection for the purpose of protracting the procedures for his/her expulsion from Georgia or of absconding;

b) there is sufficient ground for assuming that he/she poses a threat to the state security, public security and/or legal order of Georgia;

c) he/she has failed to fulfil the obligations provided for by an alternative measure to detention, as determined by a judge.

2. The alien provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article may be detained and placed in a temporary placement isolator or a temporary accommodation centre. An alien placed in a temporary placement isolator shall, after a decision provided for by the legislation of Georgia is made, be transferred to a temporary accommodation centre.

3. The case of the detention of the alien provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be considered and a decision shall be adopted by a court in accordance with the procedure established by Article 64 of this Law.

4. In the case provided for by this Article, after the detention of an asylum seeker, he/she shall be placed in a temporary accommodation centre in accordance with the procedure established by Article 64² of this Law.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 66². Alternative measure to the placement of an asylum seeker in a temporary accommodation centre 1. The court is entitled, on its own initiative or on the basis of a motion by the authorised body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, to adopt a decision on the application of an alternative measure to the placement of an asylum seeker in a temporary accommodation centre.🔗

2. An asylum seeker may be assigned the alternative measure provided for by Article 65 of this Law, in accordance with the procedure established by the same Article.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 67. Processing of an alien's personal data 1. An alien's personal data shall be processed in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. The rules, time limits and conditions for the use of an alien's personal data and the operational exchange of the information contained therein shall be determined by the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection and by Chapter IV of the Law of Georgia on International Cooperation in the Law Enforcement Sphere.

Article 68. Liability of an alien for violation of Georgian legislation For violation of Georgian legislation, an alien shall, in accordance with the established procedure, bear criminal, civil or administrative liability.🔗

Article 69. Liability for violation of the law Violation of this Law entails liability in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.Chapter XIVFee and Charge for a Georgian Visa and a Residence Permit in Georgia🔗

Article 70. Fee and Charge for a Georgian Visa and a Residence Permit in Georgia 1. An alien shall pay a consular fee for the issuance of a Georgian visa in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Consular Fees, and an alien shall pay a state duty for the issuance of a short-term ordinary visa at a border crossing point, for the issuance of a Georgian visa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and for the extension of its validity period, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on State Duty.🔗

2. An alien shall pay a service charge in the amount and in accordance with the procedure provided for by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia:

a) in the cases provided for by paragraphs 1¹ and 1² of Article 8 and paragraph 4¹ of Article 9 of this Law, where the Public Service Hall and the Agency ensure the receipt of the documentation required for the issuance of a Georgian immigration visa to an alien lawfully staying in Georgia, as well as for the extension of the validity period of D3 category and D5 category immigration visas, and the affixing of a visa in a travel document or the electronic issuance of a Georgian visa, or the municipality exercises the authority provided for by this paragraph under a delegation contract;

b) for the consideration and resolution of the matter of obtaining a residence permit in Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 14 November 2014 No. 2788 – website, 26.11.2014.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2015 No. 3602 – website, 15.05.2015.

Article 71. Measures to be implemented in connection with the entry into force of the law 1. The Government of Georgia shall, within 3 months from the entry into force of this law, ensure:🔗

a) approval of the rules for issuing a Georgian visa, extending its validity and terminating its validity;

b) approval of the list of countries whose citizens may enter Georgia without a visa;

c) approval of the rules for considering and deciding the issue of granting a residence permit in Georgia;

d) (removed - 26.06.2025, No. 865);

e) approval of the rules for establishing the status of a stateless person in Georgia;

f) compliance of the relevant subordinate legislative acts with this law.

2. The Ministry of Justice of Georgia shall, within 3 months from the entry into force of this law, ensure the approval of the form and issuance rules of the temporary identification certificate.

3. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall, within 3 months from the entry into force of this law, ensure the approval of the rules for the detention of an alien and placement in a temporary accommodation centre.

4. The relevant institutions of the executive authority of Georgia shall ensure the compliance of the relevant legal acts with this law.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 865 - website, 07.07.2025.

Article 72. Transitional provisions🔗

1. An alien who crossed the state border of Georgia before this Law entered into force shall not be subject to the operation of Chapter III of this Law until his/her departure from Georgia, but no later than 1 July 2015.

2. Stateless persons having status in Georgia, who acquired the status before this Law entered into force, on the basis of the legislation of Georgia on the legal status of aliens, without conducting the respective proceedings, and whose residence certificates have expired, are obliged to apply to the Agency before 1 September 2015 in order to receive new residence certificates. In the event of failure to fulfil the said obligation within the specified period, these persons shall have their stateless person status terminated.

3. In the event of submission of an application to receive the respective type of residence permit in Georgia, an alien to whom a residence permit in Georgia was issued before this paragraph entered into force, or who entered after 17 March 2014 and was in Georgia at the time this paragraph entered into force, shall until 1 July 2015 be released from the obligation to comply with the condition established by paragraph 2 of Article 14 of this Law and to submit a document confirming the right to stay in Georgia on a lawful basis. In the said case, before a final decision on the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia is made, the alien may not be expelled from Georgia.

4. An alien who, after the expiry of the period of stay in Georgia on a lawful basis, receives a residence permit in Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 3 of this Article, shall have the period of stay in Georgia without a lawful basis deemed excusable, and he/she shall be released from the obligation to pay the fine established by the legislation of Georgia.

5. An alien who entered before 17 March 2014 and was in Georgia at the time this paragraph entered into force has the right, after the expiry of the period of stay in Georgia on a lawful basis, until 1 July 2015, in accordance with paragraph 1¹ of Article 6 of this Law, to submit an application in Georgia to receive an immigration visa, except where he/she has been refused the issuance of a residence permit in Georgia. An alien who in the said case receives an immigration visa shall have the period of stay in Georgia without a lawful basis deemed excusable, and he/she shall be released from the obligation to pay the fine established by the legislation of Georgia. Before a final decision on the issuance of an immigration visa is made, the alien may not be expelled from Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 2788 of 14 November 2014 – website, 26.11.2014

Law of Georgia No. 3101 of 19 February 2015 – website, 24.02.2015

Article 73. Invalid normative acts shall be declared invalid upon the entry into force of the legal acts referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 71 of this Law:🔗

a) Law of Georgia of 27 December 2005 "On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons" (Legislative Herald of Georgia, No 3, 16.01.2006, Art. 16);

b) Decree No 400 of the President of Georgia of 28 June 2006 "On approval of the Regulation on the procedure for the examination and resolution of matters of granting a residence permit in Georgia";

c) Decree No 401 of the President of Georgia of 28 June 2006 "On approval of the Regulation on the procedure for the expulsion of aliens from Georgia";

d) Decree No 399 of the President of Georgia of 28 June 2006 "On approval of the Regulation on the procedure for issuing, extending and terminating the validity of a visa";

e) Decree No 515 of the President of Georgia of 27 June 2012 "On approval of the procedure for establishing the status of a stateless person".

Article 74. Entry into force of the Law This Law shall enter into force from 1 September 2014.🔗

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili

Kutaisi,

5 March 2014

No 2045-IIs